The US Capitol Christmas Tree is something that visitors to DC during the holidays will definitely want to see. It, along with the National Christmas Tree infront of the White House, are awe-inspiring and a wonderful way to kick-off the season.
Displaying a Christmas tree on the Capitol grounds is a relatively recent tradition that officially started in 1964. Correspondence of 1919 in the records of the Architect of the Capitol shows that a Christmas tree was purchased that year. However, it was not until 1964 that a tree-lighting ceremony was established.
As the story goes it was in 1963, that House Speaker John W. McCormack suggested to J. George Stewart, Architect of the Capitol, that a Christmas tree be placed on the 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.
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has provided the trees since 1970. The 2008 tree is 70 feet in height and hails from Montana's Bitterroot National Forest.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GO
Date: December 2, 2008, 5:00 p.m.
Location: West Lawn of the US Capitol.Constitution and Independence Avenues, Washington, DC.
Parkin: Parking near the US can be difficult, especially when Congress is in session or there is a big event going on. Street parking is available, but limited. Take Metro and save yourself the headache.
