Capitol Christmas Tree facts for kids
The Capitol Christmas Tree is a special decorated tree put up every year on the lawn of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. It celebrates the Christmas holiday season. The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is in charge of choosing, setting up, and decorating this big tree.
The tree is usually lit up in a ceremony at the start of December. It stays lit every night until New Year's Day.
History of the Capitol Christmas Tree
Records show that a Christmas tree was bought for the Capitol in 1919. But it wasn't until 1964 that a regular plan for a yearly tree was set up. This happened after John W. McCormack, who was the Speaker of the House, suggested it in 1963.
The first tree in 1963 was a live Douglas fir. It was bought from a nursery in Pennsylvania. This tree was decorated each year until 1967. A strong wind storm damaged it, and it later died. After that, cut white pines from Maryland were used in 1968 and 1969. Since 1970, the United States Forest Service has provided trees from different National Forests.
In the late 1990s, the tree's name was changed to the Capitol Holiday Tree. People weren't sure why the name changed. This caused some discussion. On November 29, 2005, the tree was renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree again. This was asked for by Dennis Hastert, who was the Speaker of the House at that time.
Trees by Year
The Capitol Christmas Tree comes from a different National Forest each year. It travels across the country to reach Washington, D.C. Thousands of handmade ornaments from children and people in the tree's home state decorate it.
| Year | Tree Type | Height | Where it Grew | State | Fun Facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Engelmann Spruce | 55 feet (17 m) | Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests | Colorado | It was lit on December 2. The tree traveled across the country. It was decorated with thousands of handmade ornaments from Colorado. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it stayed lit until Christmas. |
| 2019 | Blue Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Carson National Forest | New Mexico | |
| 2018 | Noble Fir | 82 feet (25 m) | Willamette National Forest | Oregon | |
| 2017 | Engelmann Spruce | 79 feet (24 m) | Kootenai National Forest | Montana | |
| 2016 | Engelmann Spruce | 84 feet (26 m) | Payette National Forest | Idaho | Lit on December 6. It had thousands of LED lights and 6,000 ornaments. These ornaments were made by children in Idaho. They showed things like salmon and pine cones. |
| 2015 | Lutz Spruce | 74 feet (23 m) | Chugach National Forest | Alaska | This was the first Capitol Christmas Tree from Alaska. |
| 2014 | White Spruce | 88 feet (27 m) | Chippewa National Forest | Minnesota | |
| 2013 | Engelmann Spruce | 88 feet (27 m) | Colville National Forest | Washington | |
| 2012 | Engelmann Spruce | 73 feet (22 m) | White River National Forest | Colorado | The theme was 'Celebrating Our Great Outdoors'. Speaker John Boehner was expected to light it. |
| 2011 | Sierra White Fir | 63 feet (19 m) | Stanislaus National Forest | California | Lit by John Boehner on December 6. It had about 3,000 ornaments. These showed the theme "California Shines." All the lights were LEDs. |
| 2010 | Engelmann Spruce | 67 feet (20 m) | Bridger-Teton National Forest | Wyoming | Lit by Nancy Pelosi on December 7. It had about 5,000 ornaments. These showed the theme "Wyoming: Forever West." All the lights were LEDs. |
| 2009 | Blue Spruce | 85 feet (26 m) | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests | Arizona | Lit by Nancy Pelosi on December 8. It had 10,000 LEDs and 5,000 ornaments. These were made by people from Arizona. |
| 2008 | Subalpine Fir | 70 feet (21 m) | Bitterroot National Forest | Montana | Decorated with over 5,000 ornaments. These showed "Sharing Montana's Treasures." They highlighted the state's history and nature. All the lights were LEDs. |
| 2007 | Balsam Fir | 55 feet (17 m) | Green Mountain National Forest | Vermont | Decorated with only LEDs and about 4,500 ornaments. These were made by people from Vermont. The theme was "Bringing an Old Fashioned Holiday to the Nation.” |
| 2006 | Pacific Silver Fir | 65 feet (20 m) | Olympic National Forest | Washington | Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 6. It had 3,000 ornaments from Washington school children. These showed the state's history and landscapes. It also had 10,000 LEDs. |
| 2005 | Engelmann Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | Santa Fe National Forest | New Mexico | Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 8. It had about 3,000 ornaments from New Mexico. It was lit with 10,000 lights, including LEDs for the first time. This was the first tree since 1998 to be called "Christmas Tree" again. |
| 2004 | Red Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | George Washington and Jefferson National Forests | Virginia | Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 9. It had about 5,000 ornaments from Virginia. It also had 10,000 lights. |
| 2003 | Engelmann Spruce | 70 feet (21 m) | Boise National Forest | Idaho | Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 11. It had about 6,000 ornaments from Idaho. It also had 10,000 lights. |
| 2002 | Douglas Fir | 70 feet (21 m) | Umpqua National Forest | Oregon | Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 12. It had 6,000 ornaments from Oregon. It was lit with 10,000 lights. |
| 2001 | White Spruce | 72 feet (22 m) | Ottawa National Forest | Michigan | Known as "The Tree of Hope." Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 11. It had about 6,000 ornaments from Michigan. It also had 10,000 blue, amber, and clear lights. |
| 2000 | Colorado Blue Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | Pike National Forest | Colorado | Transported by a truck decorated like a Conestoga wagon. Lit by Dennis Hastert on December 12. It had about 6,400 ornaments from Colorado school children. It also had 10,000 blue, white, and amber lights. |
| 1999 | White Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Nicolet National Forest | Wisconsin | Shipped by train. Decorated with about 4,000 ornaments from Wisconsin. It had 10,000 blue, clear, and amber lights. This was the first tree named "Holiday Tree." |
| 1998 | Fraser Fir | 50 feet (15 m) | Pisgah National Forest | North Carolina | Lit by Newt Gingrich on December 8. It had about 4,000 ornaments made by North Carolina school children. It also had 10,000 blue, clear, and amber lights. |
| 1997 | Black Hills Spruce | 63 feet (19 m) | Black Hills National Forest | South Dakota | |
| 1996 | Engelmann Spruce | 75 feet (23 m) | Manti La Sal National Forest | Utah | |
| 1995 | Douglas Fir | 60 feet (18 m) | Plumas National Forest | California | |
| 1994 | Balsam Fir | 58 feet (18 m) | Green Mountain National Forest | Vermont | |
| 1993 | White Fir | 65 feet (20 m) | San Bernardino National Forest | California | Decorated with about 4,000 ornaments made by children using recycled materials. |
| 1992 | White Spruce | 62 feet (19 m) | Chippewa National Forest | Minnesota | |
| 1991 | Blue Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Carson National Forest | New Mexico | |
| 1990 | Engelmann Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | Routt National Forest | Colorado | |
| 1989 | Engelmann Spruce | 89 feet (27 m) | Kootenai National Forest | Montana | |
| 1988 | Balsam Fir | 50 feet (15 m) | Manistee National Forest | Michigan | |
| 1987 | Norway Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Wayne National Forest | Ohio | |
| 1986 | Shasta Red Fir | 54 feet (16 m) | Klamath National Forest | California | |
| 1985 | White Spruce | 56 feet (17 m) | Ottawa National Forest | Michigan | |
| 1984 | White Spruce | 58 feet (18 m) | Superior National Forest | Minnesota | |
| 1983 | White Spruce | 52 feet (16 m) | Chequamegon National Forest | Wisconsin | |
| 1982 | Balsam Fir | 50 feet (15 m) | Riley Bostwich Wildlife Management Area | Vermont | |
| 1981 | White Spruce | 50 feet (15 m) | Hiawatha National Forest | Michigan | |
| 1980 | White Spruce | 48 feet (15 m) | Green Mountain National Forest | Vermont | |
| 1979 | White Spruce | 52 feet (16 m) | Nicolet National Forest | Wisconsin | |
| 1978 | Norway Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Savage River State Forest | Maryland | |
| 1977 | White Spruce | 52 feet (16 m) | Nemadji State Forest | Minnesota | |
| 1976 | Red Spruce | 41 feet (12 m) | Monongahela National Forest | West Virginia | |
| 1975 | Balsam Fir | 41 feet (12 m) | Ottawa National Forest | Michigan | |
| 1974 | Fraser Fir | 41 feet (12 m) | Pisgah National Forest | North Carolina | |
| 1973 | White Spruce | 51 feet (16 m) | Allegheny National Forest | Pennsylvania | |
| 1972 | Balsam Fir | 50 feet (15 m) | Cherokee National Forest | Tennessee | |
| 1971 | Black Spruce | 45 feet (14 m) | White Mountain National Forest | New Hampshire | |
| 1970 | Norway Spruce | 40 feet (12 m) | Monongahela National Forest | West Virginia | |
| 1969 | White Pine | 40 feet (12 m) | Westminster, Maryland | Maryland | |
| 1968 | White Pine | 30 feet (9.1 m) | Finksburg, Maryland | Maryland | Made from two different trees. |
| 1967 | Douglas Fir | 24 feet (7.3 m) | Birdsboro, Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | In 1963, John W. McCormack suggested a Christmas Tree for the Capitol grounds. A live tree was bought for $700. It was planted on the West Front Lawn. This tree was decorated every year until 1967. It was damaged by a wind storm in the spring of 1967. |
| 1966 | |||||
| 1965 | |||||
| 1964 | |||||
| 1963 |
Images for kids
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Special semi-truck wrap for the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree
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2021 Capitol Christmas Tree in its transport
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People signing the truck transporting the 2021 Capitol Christmas Tree at an event in Ukiah, California
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Capitol Christmas Tree Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.