Capitol Christmas Tree
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The Capitol Christmas Tree (formerly the Capitol Holiday Tree) is the decorated tree that is erected annually on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Christmas holiday season.
A tree was first displayed in 1964, at the request of Speaker of the House John W. McCormack.[1] This first tree was a live Douglas-fir, purchased from a nursery. It was re-decorated for the next three Christmas seasons. After it died, white pines were cut down in Maryland and put on display for the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Beginning in 1970, trees have been provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is traditionally lighted at 5:00pm EST on December 9 through to New Year's Day.
[edit] Trees
| Year | Species[1] | Height[1] | Location grown at[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Blue Spruce | 85 feet (26 m) | Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Arizona | From Arizona White Mountains Region. Approx 10,000 ft above sea level. |
| 2008 | Subalpine Fir | 70 feet (21 m) | Bitterroot National Forest, Montana | |
| 2007 | Balsam Fir | 55 feet (17 m) | Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont | |
| 2006 | Pacific Silver Fir | 65 feet (20 m) | Olympic National Forest, Washington | |
| 2005 | Engelmann Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico | |
| 2004 | Red Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, Virginia | |
| 2003 | Engelmann Spruce | 70 feet (21 m) | Boise National Forest, Idaho | |
| 2002 | Douglas Fir | 70 feet (21 m) | Umpqua National Forest, Oregon | |
| 2001 | White Spruce | 72 feet (22 m) | Ottawa National Forest, Michigan | |
| 2000 | Colorado Blue Spruce | 65 feet (20 m) | Pike National Forest, Colorado | |
| 1999 | White Spruce | 60 feet (18 m) | Nicolet National Forest, Wisconsin | |
| 1998 | Fraser Fir | 50 feet (15 m) | Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina | |
| 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 | |
| 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) | Tennessee National Forest, Pennsylvania | |
| 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 | |
| 1968 | White Pine | 30 feet (9.1 m) | Finksburg, Maryland | Made from two different trees |
| 1967 | Douglas Fir | 24 feet (7.3 m) | Birdsboro, Pennsylvania | |
| 1966 | ||||
| 1965 | ||||
| 1964 |
[edit] Name controversy
In 1999, the Capitol Christmas Tree was renamed to the Capitol Holiday Tree. There was never an explanation as to why the name change occurred, but it raised controversy in the 2004 Christmas holiday season, and especially in 2005.[citation needed]
On 30 November 2005, the tree was renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree due to threats of legal action[citation needed] and complaints forwarded from a member of the Senate to Dennis Hastert.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees". Architect of the Capitol. http://www.aoc.gov/cc/grounds/hol_trees/index.cfm. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
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