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    HomeWhat We DoPrograms & Ceremonies
Capitol Christmas Tree
The regular practice of displaying a Christmas tree on the U.S. Capitol grounds is relatively recent.
        
                  Image
    The 2019 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree with lights on.

The 2019 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico.

Records at the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) show correspondence from 1919 indicate that a Christmas tree was purchased that year. However, it was not until 1964 that a definite procedure was initiated and a tree-lighting ceremony established.

In 1964, House Speaker John W. McCormack suggested to J. George Stewart, Architect of the Capitol, that a Christmas tree be placed on the U.S. Capitol grounds. A live 24-foot Douglas fir was purchased for $700 from Buddies Nurseries of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, and was planted on the West Front lawn. Each year through 1967 this tree was decorated and a tree-lighting ceremony was held.

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting: A HistoryUnfortunately, a combination of factors, including a severe wind storm in the spring of 1967 and root damage, caused the tree to die in 1968; it was removed in the same year. The 1968 Christmas tree was made from two white pines from Finksburg, Maryland, and was 30 feet tall; the 1969 tree was a 40-foot white pine from Westminster, Maryland. The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees since 1970.

Preparing the Christmas tree is a true team effort for the AOC. We work around the clock from tree selection to arrival, decoration and lighting.

Tree Facts and Details

Information about individual trees is listed below. Height is provided as measured in the forest by the National Forest Service.

Image
    Graphic with facts about the tree.**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**2024
			TBA
			TBA
			Tongass National Forest
			Alaska2023
			Norway Spruce
			63 feet
			Monongahela National Forest
			West Virginia2022
			Red Spruce
			78 feet
			National Forests in North Carolina
			North Carolina2021
			White Fir
			84 feet
			Six Rivers National Forest
			California2020
			Engelmann Spruce
			55 feet
			Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests
			Colorado2010s

**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**2019
			Blue Spruce
			60 feet
			Carson National Forest
			New Mexico2018
			Noble Fir
			80 feet
			Willamette National Forest
			Oregon2017
			Engelmann Spruce
			79 feet
			Kootenai National Forest
			Montana2016
			Engelmann Spruce
			80 feet
			Payette National Forest
			Idaho2015
			Lutz Spruce
			74 feet
			Chugach National Forest
			Alaska2014
			White Spruce
			88 feet
			Chippewa National Forest
			Minnesota2013
			Engelmann Spruce
			88 feet
			Colville National Forest
			Washington2012
			Engelmann Spruce
			73 feet
			White River National Forest
			Colorado2011
			Sierra White Fir
			65 feet
			Stanislaus National Forest
			California2010
			Engelmann Spruce
			67 feet
			Bridger-Teton National Forest
			Wyoming2000s

Image
    Band playing during the 2008 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.

Band playing during the 2008 Christmas tree lighting ceremony.**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**2009
			Blue Spruce
			85 feet
			Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest
			Arizona2008
			Subalpine Fir
			78 feet
			Bitterroot National Forest
			Montana2007
			Balsam Fir
			55 feet
			Green Mountain National Forest
			Vermont2006
			Pacific Silver Fir
			65 feet
			Olympic National Forest
			Washington2005
			Engelmann Spruce
			60 feet
			Santa Fe National Forest
			New Mexico2004
			Red Spruce
			70 feet
			George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
			Virginia2003
			Engelmann Spruce
			65 feet
			Boise National Forest
			Idaho2002
			Douglas Fir
			70 feet
			Umpqua National Forest
			Oregon2001
			White Spruce
			74 feet
			Ottawa National Forest
			Michigan2000
			Colorado Blue Spruce
			65 feet
			Pike National Forest
			Colorado1990s

**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**1999
			White Spruce
			70 feet
			Nicolet National Forest
			Wisconsin1998
			Fraser Fir
			50 feet
			Pisgah National Forest
			North Carolina1997
			Black Hills Spruce
			63 feet
			Black Hills National Forest
			South Dakota1996
			Engelmann Spruce
			75 feet
			Manti-LaSal National Forest
			Utah1995
			Douglas Fir
			60 feet
			Plumas National Forest
			California1994
			Balsam Fir
			58 feet
			Green Mountain National Forest
			Vermont1993
			White Fir
			65 feet
			San Bernardino National Forest
			California1992
			White Spruce
			62 feet
			Chippewa National Forest
			Minnesota1991
			Blue Spruce (live)
			60 feet
			Carson National Forest
			New Mexico1990
			Engelmann Spruce
			65 feet
			Routt National Forest
			Colorado1980s

**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**1989
			Engelmann Spruce
			60 feet
			Kootenai National Forest
			Montana1988
			Balsam Fir
			50 feet
			Manistee National Forest
			Michigan1987
			Norway Spruce
			60 feet
			Wayne-Hoosier National Forest
			Ohio1986
			Shasta Red Fir
			54 feet
			Klamath National Forest
			California1985
			White Spruce
			56 feet
			Ottawa National Forest
			Michigan1984
			White Spruce
			58 feet
			Superior National Forest
			Minnesota1983
			White Spruce
			52 feet
			Chequamegon National Forest
			Wisconsin1982
			Balsam Fir
			50 feet
			Riley Bostwich Wildlife Management Area
			Vermont1981
			White Spruce
			50 feet
			Hiawatha National Forest
			Michigan1980
			White Spruce
			48 feet
			Green Mountain National Forest
			Vermont1970s

Image
    AOC workers anchor the 1971 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on the West Lawn.

AOC workers anchor the 1971 Capitol Christmas Tree, a Black Spruce from New Hampshire's White Mountain National Forest.**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**1979
			White Spruce
			52 feet
			Nicolet National Forest
			Wisconsin1978
			Norway Spruce
			60 feet
			Savage River State Forest
			Maryland1977
			White Spruce
			52 feet
			Nemadji State Forest
			Minnesota1976
			Red Spruce
			41 feet
			Monongahela National Forest
			West Virginia1975
			Balsam Fir
			41 feet
			Ottawa National Forest
			Michigan1974
			Fraser Fir
			41 feet
			Pisgah National Forest
			North Carolina1973
			White Spruce
			51 feet
			Allegheny National Forest
			Pennsylvania1972
			Balsam Fir
			50 feet
			Cherokee National Forest
			Tennessee1971
			Black Spruce
			45 feet
			White Mountain National Forest
			New Hampshire1970
			Norway Spruce
			40 feet
			Monongahela National Forest
			West Virginia1960s

Image
    The first Capitol Christmas Tree being planted on the West Front in 1964.

The first Capitol Christmas Tree being planted on the West Front in 1964.**Year**
			**Tree**
			**Height**
			**Source**
			**State**1969
			White Pine
			40 feet
			Westminister
			Maryland1968
			White Pine
			30 feet
			Finxburg
			Maryland1967
			Douglas Fir
			24 feet
			Buddies Nurseries
			Pennsylvania1966
			Douglas Fir
			24 feet
			Buddies Nurseries
			Pennsylvania1965
			Douglas Fir
			24 feet
			Buddies Nurseries
			Pennsylvania1964
			Douglas Fir
			24 feet
			Buddies Nurseries
			Pennsylvania
          
    
    
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