Capitol Christmas Tree, Festive tree on West Front Lawn of United States Capitol, Washington, D.C., US.
The Capitol Christmas Tree is a massive evergreen decorated with thousands of ornaments and twinkling LED lights, standing on the West Lawn of the Capitol building throughout the winter season. The decorations cover the entire tree from base to top, creating a glowing focal point of the holiday celebration at this historic location.
The tradition began in 1964 when the first large Christmas tree was placed on the Capitol grounds to establish a national holiday celebration. Since then, this practice has been repeated annually and has become an established winter tradition at the heart of Washington.
Each year, volunteers from the forest state that provides the tree create handmade ornaments reflecting their region's crafts and identity. These decorations tell stories about the people and nature of their home through objects hung on the branches.
The tree is free to visit and illuminated daily from dusk until 11 p.m., when the lights are most striking. The site is walkable, though parking is limited during busy periods, so public transportation or rideshare options work well for getting there.
A different tree from a different state forest is selected each year, meaning the species and origin of the displayed tree constantly changes. This rotation ensures different regions of the country get an opportunity to showcase their own trees and receive national attention.
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