kids encyclopedia robot

Capitol Christmas Tree facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Flickr - USCapitol - Capitol Christmas Tree - 2009
The Capitol Christmas Tree in 2009.

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

kids search engine
Capitol Christmas Tree Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.