Capitol Christmas tree arrives in Washington after 4,000-mile journey from Alaska

The Capitol Christmas Tree, an 80-foot Sitka spruce, arrives in Washington, from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. The tree will be decorated and illuminated at a ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 3. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

This year's Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol reached its final destination in Washington on Friday after traveling over 4,000 miles for a nearly month-long journey with stops in 17 states.

Each year the U.S. Capitol's Christmas tree is chosen from one of the country's 154 national forests.

This year's 80-foot Sitka spruce was brought in via flatbed tractor-trailer from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, marking the state's second Capitol Christmas tree contribution. Tongass also happens to be the largest national forest in the U.S.

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The tree has been dubbed "Spruce Wayne" after a naming contest on social media.

"Driving a truck is just plain work, but every stop we went there was happy faces," said truck driver Fred Austin with Lynden. "It's a happy way to make a trip."

The tree will be decorated with thousands of ornaments made by Alaskans before it is lit on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building after Thanksgiving.

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