Capitol Christmas Tree

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 History

Unfortunately, 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.

Year	Tree	Height	Source	State
2024	Sitka Spruce	80 feet	Tongass National Forest	Alaska
2023	Norway Spruce	63 feet	Monongahela National Forest	West Virginia
2022	Red Spruce	78 feet	National Forests in North Carolina	North Carolina
2021	White Fir	84 feet	Six Rivers National Forest	California
2020	Engelmann Spruce	55 feet	Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests	Colorado

2010s

Year	Tree	Height	Source	State
2019	Blue Spruce	60 feet	Carson National Forest	New Mexico
2018	Noble Fir	80 feet	Willamette National Forest	Oregon
2017	Engelmann Spruce	79 feet	Kootenai National Forest	Montana
2016	Engelmann Spruce	80 feet	Payette National Forest	Idaho
2015	Lutz Spruce	74 feet	Chugach National Forest	Alaska
2014	White Spruce	88 feet	Chippewa National Forest	Minnesota
2013	Engelmann Spruce	88 feet	Colville National Forest	Washington
2012	Engelmann Spruce	73 feet	White River National Forest	Colorado
2011	Sierra White Fir	65 feet	Stanislaus National Forest	California
2010	Engelmann Spruce	67 feet	Bridger-Teton National Forest	Wyoming

2000s

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	Arizona
2008	Subalpine Fir	78 feet	Bitterroot National Forest	Montana
2007	Balsam Fir	55 feet	Green Mountain National Forest	Vermont
2006	Pacific Silver Fir	65 feet	Olympic National Forest	Washington
2005	Engelmann Spruce	60 feet	Santa Fe National Forest	New Mexico
2004	Red Spruce	70 feet	George Washington and Jefferson National Forest	Virginia
2003	Engelmann Spruce	65 feet	Boise National Forest	Idaho
2002	Douglas Fir	70 feet	Umpqua National Forest	Oregon
2001	White Spruce	74 feet	Ottawa National Forest	Michigan
2000	Colorado Blue Spruce	65 feet	Pike National Forest	Colorado

1990s

Year	Tree	Height	Source	State
1999	White Spruce	70 feet	Nicolet National Forest	Wisconsin
1998	Fraser Fir	50 feet	Pisgah National Forest	North Carolina
1997	Black Hills Spruce	63 feet	Black Hills National Forest	South Dakota
1996	Engelmann Spruce	75 feet	Manti-LaSal National Forest	Utah
1995	Douglas Fir	60 feet	Plumas National Forest	California
1994	Balsam Fir	58 feet	Green Mountain National Forest	Vermont
1993	White Fir	65 feet	San Bernardino National Forest	California
1992	White Spruce	62 feet	Chippewa National Forest	Minnesota
1991	Blue Spruce (live)	60 feet	Carson National Forest	New Mexico
1990	Engelmann Spruce	65 feet	Routt National Forest	Colorado

1980s

Year	Tree	Height	Source	State
1989	Engelmann Spruce	60 feet	Kootenai National Forest	Montana
1988	Balsam Fir	50 feet	Manistee National Forest	Michigan
1987	Norway Spruce	60 feet	Wayne-Hoosier National Forest	Ohio
1986	Shasta Red Fir	54 feet	Klamath National Forest	California
1985	White Spruce	56 feet	Ottawa National Forest	Michigan
1984	White Spruce	58 feet	Superior National Forest	Minnesota
1983	White Spruce	52 feet	Chequamegon National Forest	Wisconsin
1982	Balsam Fir	50 feet	Riley Bostwich Wildlife Management Area	Vermont
1981	White Spruce	50 feet	Hiawatha National Forest	Michigan
1980	White Spruce	48 feet	Green Mountain National Forest	Vermont

1970s

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	Wisconsin
1978	Norway Spruce	60 feet	Savage River State Forest	Maryland
1977	White Spruce	52 feet	Nemadji State Forest	Minnesota
1976	Red Spruce	41 feet	Monongahela National Forest	West Virginia
1975	Balsam Fir	41 feet	Ottawa National Forest	Michigan
1974	Fraser Fir	41 feet	Pisgah National Forest	North Carolina
1973	White Spruce	51 feet	Allegheny National Forest	Pennsylvania
1972	Balsam Fir	50 feet	Cherokee National Forest	Tennessee
1971	Black Spruce	45 feet	White Mountain National Forest	New Hampshire
1970	Norway Spruce	40 feet	Monongahela National Forest	West Virginia

1960s

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

Year	Tree	Height	Source	State
1969	White Pine	40 feet	Westminister	Maryland
1968	White Pine	30 feet	Finxburg	Maryland
1967	Douglas Fir	24 feet	Buddies Nurseries	Pennsylvania
1966	Douglas Fir	24 feet	Buddies Nurseries	Pennsylvania
1965	Douglas Fir	24 feet	Buddies Nurseries	Pennsylvania
1964	Douglas Fir	24 feet	Buddies Nurseries	Pennsylvania