About the 2010 Capitol Christmas Tree:
The State of Wyoming is providing the Capitol Christmas Tree for 2010 it is from the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming.
Press Release from the Official Site:
Wyoming- Forever West
2010 will the first year Wyoming has contributed the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
The 2010 tree will be harvested from the Bridger-Teton National Forest located in western Wyoming.
The Forest Service recommends 6 to 8 trees for selection. However, the U.S. Capitol Architect makes the final selection and determines which tree will be the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
It is estimated that the tree selected will be approximately 60 feet tall.
Imagine a 6-story tall building—that is about how tall the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be.
An additional 75 companion trees will be delivered to the Capitol and placed in federal offices, congressional and senate offices, as well as the United State Supreme Court.
ROAD TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wyoming’s tree will travel throughout the state visiting nearly 15 cities and towns before it journeys to Washington, D.C. The Wyoming state tour will take about 10 days.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2010 will make frequent stops across the nation on its way to Washington, D.C., escorted by federal officials. The national tour will take about another 10 days.
The tree will travel on a double flatbed truck. Placed on its side, it will rest in a custom cradle that supports the branches, preventing damage and maintaining the tree’s perfect shape.
A caravan of approximately 12 vehicles, including two semi-trucks, will escort the tree east. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2010 will travel more than 3,000 miles during its three-week tour.
The base of the tree will be fitted with a plastic bladder filled with fresh water nightly. The tree will absorb about 65 gallons of water each day from in a refillable water blatter on the base of the Capitol Tree throughout its trek to Washington, D.C.. The tree’s Water blatter is refilled each night to keep the tree fresh.
A full-sized semi-truck will be needed to transport all the ornaments delivered to Washington, D.C.
| Sep 2, 2010 | Juried Art Show Deadline |
| Oct 8, 2010 | Ornament Deadline |
| Nov 6, 2010 | Tree Cutting Celebration on the Jackson Town Square at 4:30pm. |
| Nov 10 - 16, 2010 | Wyoming Tour [See Route] |
| Nov 17 - 28, 2010 | Wyoming To Washington D.C. [See Route] |
The citizens of Wyoming will make the 5,000 ornaments used to decorate the tree. The ornaments will be 9 to 12 inches tall and must be made to withstand 3 weeks of harsh winter weather.
An additional 1,000 ornaments will be made for the 75 companion trees displayed throughout the Capitol.
About 10,000 LED Christmas lights are strung throughout the tree.
It takes more than a week for the U.S. Capitol Architect and his team to decorate.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is topped by the same single star ornament used each year.
The tree will be placed into a hole nearly five feet deep and actually cemented into place.
Although U.S. Capitol Christmas trees are varied heights, when installed they can be no taller than 65 feet. The Capitol landscape crew does not have a basket crane taller than that!
U.S. CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE CEREMONY
The Speaker of the House officially lights the tree. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2010 will be illuminated by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with the Wyoming congressional delegation, Senators Michael Enzi and John Barrasso along with Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal in attendance.
Once the tree is lit, it is open for public viewing throughout the holidays until January 1, 2011. The lights come on at dusk and are turned off nightly at 11:00 p.m.
During the official lighting ceremony, Wyoming culture will be highlighted.
Often called “The People’s Tree,” the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Wyoming will actually be presented to Congress as a gift from the Equality State.
The privately funded Capitol Christmas Tree project will cost an estimated $300,000. To donate, CLICK HERE or here for the official site For more info