Capitol Christmas Tree Traveling From Alaska To D.C.

A unique journey for this year's U.S. Capitol Christmas tree harvested from its island spot within the Tongas National Forest in Southeast Alaska and transported by barge and truck to stops in the last frontier. This week's tree dedication ceremony on Wrangel Island and 1st whistleblower tour stop in Ketchikan, AK also unique according to Brandon Raile of the U.S. Forest Service. 

“We're not really going to be able to do a tour of Alaska and that's just due to the logistics and the cost of being able to do everything.”

The traditional rally parade around the home state of the US Capitol Christmas tree for this year became a barge trip for the 74-foot Sitka spruce from Ketchikan to Seattle.

“Transfer it back onto the truck and then we can hit the road for our nearly 3000-mile journey across the lower 48,” Raile said.

And over two week transit, with the final destination, the U.S. Capitol Grounds in Washington. DC expected to be reached November 22nd.  There will be stops for up close viewing of the tree as it makes its cross country trek a schedule of stops.  Those days are available at the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree's Website.  Keeping the tree alive during its long period of travel required innovation.

“We have a watering system that is being developed by," Raile said.  "One of the local stem groups that is going to keep the water flowing to that route, one for the entire duration of the trip. It's never been done before, so we're really excited to be doing something that's a first for the Capitol Christmas Tree Program.”

Once the tree arrives in the nation's capital, quick work is done by the capital grounds crews to decorate it in time for the lighting ceremony. One tradition continuing with this year's tree.

“The state comes together to provide, nearly 6,000 ornaments that decorate the Capitol Christmas tree and an additional 4,000 that decorate other trees at the Capitol,” Raile said.

Not a Little Feat at all, considering Alaska small population and big size.

“The population of Alaska is 750,000.  Many communities in California, many towns that state have more people than we have in the entire state.  [To put the geographical size of our state in perspective] to the U.S., our furthest northwestern most community, if you made that, San Francisco, on a map of the lower 48; our southeastern most community would be in Florida. So, it's a huge logistical effort.”

Get the latest updates on the Capitol Christmas Tree HERE.

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