78-Foot-Tall Capitol Christmas Tree Arrives in D.C. from North Carolina

The 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree arrived on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, November 18. The red spruce made its way from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. to become the "People's Tree."

According to the Architect of the Capitol, an ideal Capitol Christmas Tree "is 60-90 feet tall, has good growth and density, is rich in color, straight, and is perfectly conical." Affectionately referred to as "Ruby," this year's tree, designated and selected by the U.S. Forest Service, is just that. Standing at 78 feet tall, the red spruce hails from North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest.

After the tree was harvested on November 2, Ruby began its 14-day-long journey to the nation's capital. During its journey by truck, the tree made several stops in communities along the way. Now in place, the Capitol Christmas Tree will be decorated, as per tradition, with handmade ornaments from residents in North Carolina.

"It is a tree that connects people, public land, and the U.S. Capitol. The tree represents the people from North Carolina and will be adorned with handmade decorations that tell their story," said Jim Kaufmann, Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum for the Architect of the Capitol.

Since 1970, the U.S. Forest Service has upheld the tradition of selecting and providing the Capitol Christmas Tree. The effort is supported by the Architect of the Capitol, whose employees help select, install, decorate, and light the tree each year.

The 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 29, at 5:00 p.m. on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol. The ceremony will be open to the public with no tickets required. Event entrances are along First Street at the Garfield and Peace Circles.

Following the lighting ceremony, the tree will be lit from dusk through 11:00 p.m. each night through January 1, 2023.