The Capitol Christmas Tree (formerly the Capitol Holiday Tree) is the decorated tree that is erected annually at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Christmas holiday season. A Christmas tree, Yule tree, holiday tree or Tannenbaum (fir tree is one of the most popular Traditions associated with the celebration Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D "Christmas season" redirects here For other uses see Christmas season (disambiguation.
A tree was first displayed in 1964, at the request of Speaker of the House John W. McCormack[1]. John William McCormack ( December 21, 1891 – November 22, 1980) was an American Politician from Boston Massachusetts This first tree was a live Douglas-fir, purchased from a nursery. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. 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. Eastern White Pine' ( Pinus strobus) is a large Pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota Beginning in 1970, trees have been provided by the U.S. Forest Service. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is traditionally lighted at 5:00pm EST on 9 December through to New Year's Day. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though
Trees
- 2007: 60-foot Balsam Fir from Green Mountain National Forest in Rutland, Vermont[2]
- 2006: 65-foot Pacific Silver Fir from Olympic National Forest in Washington[3]
- 2005: 80-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Santa Fe National Forest in Cuba, New Mexico[4]
- 2004: 70-foot Red Spruce from the George Washington National Forest in Highland County, Virginia[5]
- 2003: 70-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Boise National Forest in Idaho[1]
- 2002: 70-foot Douglas-fir from Oregon's Umpqua National Forest[6]
- 2001: 72-foot White Spruce from Ottawa National Forest in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan[7]
- 2000: 65-foot Colorado Spruce from Colorado's Pike National Forest[8]
- 1999: 60-foot White Spruce from Wisconsin's Nicolet National Forest[9]
- 1998: 50-foot Fraser Fir from the Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina[10]
- 1997: 63-foot Black Hills Spruce from the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota[11]
- 1996: 75-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Manti-LaSal National Forest in Utah[12]
- 1995: 60-foot Douglas Fir from the Plumas National Forest in California[13]
- 1994: 58-foot Balsam Fir from the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont[14]
- 1993: 65-foot White Fir from the San Bernardino National Forest in California[15]
- 1992: 62-foot White Spruce from the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota[16]
- 1991: 60-foot Blue Spruce from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico[17]
- 1990: 65-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Routt National Forest in Colorado[18]
- 1989: 60-foot Engelmann Spruce from the Kootenai National Forest]] in Montana[19]
- 1988: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Manistee National Forest in Michigan[20]
- 1987: 60-foot Norway Spruce from the Wayne-Hoosier National Forest in Ohio[21]
- 1986: 54-foot Shasta Red Fir from the Klamath National Forest in California[22]
- 1985: 56-foot White Spruce from the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan[23]
- 1984: 58-foot White Spruce from the Superior National Forest in Minnesota[24]
- 1983: 52-foot White Spruce from the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin[25]
- 1982: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Riley Bostwich Wildlife Management Area in Vermont[26]
- 1981: 50-foot White Spruce from the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan[27]
- 1980: 48-foot White Spruce from the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont[28]
- 1979: 52-foot White Spruce from the Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin[29]
- 1978: 60-foot Norway Spruce from the Savage River State Forest in Maryland[30]
- 1977: 52-foot White Spruce from the Nemadji State Forest in Minnesota[31]
- 1976: 41-foot Red Spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia[32]
- 1975: 41-foot Balsam Fir from the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan[33]
- 1974: 41-foot Fraser Fir from the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina[34]
- 1973: 51-foot White Spruce from the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania[35]
- 1972: 50-foot Balsam Fir from the Tennessee National Forest in Pennsylvania[36]
- 1971: 45-foot Black Spruce from the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire [37]
- 1970: 40-foot Norway Spruce from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia[1]
- 1969: 40-foot white pine from Westminster, Maryland[1]
- 1968: 30-foot "tree" assembled from two white pines from Finksburg, Maryland[1]
- 1964-7: live 24-foot Douglas-fir purchased from a nursery in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania[1]
Name controversy
In 1999, the Capitol Christmas Tree was renamed to the Capitol Holiday Tree. The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central Green Mountain National Forest is a National forest located in Vermont. Pacific Silver Fir ( Abies amabilis) is a Fir native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, occurring in the Pacific Coast Ranges Olympic National Forest is a US National Forest located in Washington, USA Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Picea engelmannii ( Engelmann Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and The Santa Fe National Forest is a protected National forest in northern New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Cuba is a village in Sandoval County, New Mexico, in the United States. Picea rubens ( Red Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to eastern North America. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests are US National Forests that combine to form one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States Highland County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. The Boise National The State of Idaho ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Umpqua National Forest, in southern Oregon 's Cascade mountains, covers an area of one-million acres (4000 km² in Douglas, Lane, and Jackson Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland The Ottawa National Forest is a 10 million acre (4000 km² national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that comprise the U Picea pungens ( Colorado Blue Spruce or Blue Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from southeast The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The Pike National Forest is located in the Front Range of Colorado, west of Colorado Springs and including Pikes Peak. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (ʃɨˈwɑməɡæn ˌnɪkoʊˈleɪ is a 1530647 acre (6194 Abies fraseri ( Fraser Fir) is a species of Fir native to the mountains of the eastern United States. Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Black Hills National Forest is located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. South Dakota ( is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. Picea engelmannii ( Engelmann Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Douglas-fir is the common name applied to coniferous Trees of the Genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Plumas National Forest is a United States National Forest located in northern California. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central Green Mountain National Forest is a National forest located in Vermont. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. White Fir ( Abies concolor) is a Fir native to the Mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3400 m San Bernardino National Forest has two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Chippewa National Forest is a National Forest located in northcentral Minnesota, United States in the counties of Beltrami, Cass, and Itasca Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Picea pungens ( Colorado Blue Spruce or Blue Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from southeast Carson National Forest is a national forest in northern New Mexico, United States. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. Picea engelmannii ( Engelmann Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and Medicine Bow - Routt National Forest is the official title to a U The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Picea engelmannii ( Engelmann Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to western North America, from central British Columbia and Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central The Huron-Manistee National Forests are actually two National forests combined in 1945 for administration purposes and which comprise of public lands including of Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Norway Spruce ( Picea abies) is a species of Spruce native to Europe. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Klamath National Forest is a 1737774-acre (271527 sq mi or 7032 California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland The Ottawa National Forest is a 10 million acre (4000 km² national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Superior National Forest, part of the United States National Forest system is located in the Arrowhead Region of the state of Minnesota between Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (ʃɨˈwɑməɡæn ˌnɪkoʊˈleɪ is a 1530647 acre (6194 Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Hiawatha National Forest is a National Forest in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan in the United States. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Green Mountain National Forest is a National forest located in Vermont. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (ʃɨˈwɑməɡæn ˌnɪkoʊˈleɪ is a 1530647 acre (6194 Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States Norway Spruce ( Picea abies) is a species of Spruce native to Europe. Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Picea rubens ( Red Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to eastern North America. The Monongahela National Forest (MNF was established by the U West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central The Ottawa National Forest is a 10 million acre (4000 km² national forest in the Upper Peninsula of the U Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. Abies fraseri ( Fraser Fir) is a species of Fir native to the mountains of the eastern United States. Pisgah National Forest is a National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Picea glauca ( White Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to the north of North America, from central Alaska east to Newfoundland The Allegheny National The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Balsam Fir ( Abies balsamea) is a North American Fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada ( Newfoundland west to central The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Picea mariana ( Black Spruce) is a species of Spruce native to northern North America, from Newfoundland west to Alaska The White Mountain National Forest ( WMNF) is a forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Norway Spruce ( Picea abies) is a species of Spruce native to Europe. The Monongahela National Forest (MNF was established by the U West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Westminster is the County seat of Carroll County, Maryland, United States. Finksburg is a unincorporated town located in Carroll County Maryland. Birdsboro is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, eight miles (13 km southeast of Reading. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 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.
On 30 November 2005, the tree was renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree due to threats of legal action and complaints forwarded from a member of the Senate to Dennis Hastert. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Illinois's 14th congressional district special election 2008 John Dennis "Denny" Hastert (born January 2, 1942) is an
References
- ^ a b c d e f Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees from the website of the Architect of the Capitol
- ^ Milford greets D.C.-bound yule tree - poconorecord.com - The Pocono Record
- ^ The 2006 Capitol Christmas Tree website
- ^ The 2005 Capitol Christmas Tree website
- ^ The 2004 Capitol Holiday Tree website
- ^ The 2002 Capitol Holiday Tree website
- ^ The 2001 Capitol Holiday Tree website
- ^ The 2000 Capitol Holiday Tree website
- ^ The 1999 Capitol Holiday Tree website
- ^ The 1998 Capitol Christmas Tree website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website
- ^ The AOC Capitol Grounds Christmas Trees website