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Alaska’s National Forests providing the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

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USDA Forest Service

Release Date: Mar 27, 2024

Contact(s): Brandon Raile, (907) 723-4358

JUNEAU, Alaska – March 27, 2024 – The Alaska Region of the Forest Service, which features the Tongass and Chugach National Forests, is honored to have been selected to provide the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. An annual symbol of hope and celebration, the tree offers an opportunity to showcase Alaska’s majestic landscape, unique culture, rich traditions, diverse ecosystems, and abundant resources. The tree will symbolize Alaskans’ connection to the lands they call home, as well as the special relationships between our forests and the tribal communities, partners, and sponsors coming together to send this unique holiday gift to the U.S. Capitol.

The first and only previous U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree to come from Alaska was sent from the Chugach National Forest in 2015. This year, the tree will come from the Tongass National Forest – America’s largest national forest.

“I am excited to announce that Alaska’s Tongass National Forest has been chosen to provide this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree to grace the West Lawn. The Tongass is a special place for so many Alaskans who call it home – a place rich with resources and Native cultural history. This holiday season, I can’t wait to share some of the amazing aspects of the region and our state with the Capitol and the entire nation as we welcome The People’s Tree,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski. “In 2015, Alaska’s other national forest, the Chugach National Forest, provided the Capitol Tree for the first time. Each forest acts as a hub of recreation and opportunity for thousands of Alaskans, a source of pride across our state. I look forward to once again spotlighting the majesty of Alaskan trees during Christmastime in the nation’s capital.”

“It’s an honor to have the 2024 U.S. Capitol tree come from Alaska,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “With over 22 million acres of pristine wilderness, Alaska’s forests not only symbolize the grandeur of our nation but also embody the spirit of resilience and unity. As we prepare to share a piece of Alaska with the nation, I want to acknowledge Alaska’s National Forests team for their tireless work. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

“On behalf of the hundreds of Forest Service employees who call Alaska Home, please know that as Team Alaska, we are overjoyed to be able to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, and to spread joy and cheer across the country,” said Acting Alaska Regional Forester Chad VanOrmer.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree – known as “The People’s Tree,” reflecting the nickname for the U.S. House of Representatives, “The People’s House” – adorns the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and has been selected each year since 1970 from a different National Forest.

The Alaska Region has partnered with nonprofits Society of American Foresters and Alaska Geographic to create a conservation education campaign directly tied to the project, educating Alaskans and Americans nationwide on Alaska’s National Forests and the multi-use mission of the agency. The Society of American Foresters and Alaska Geographic will also support a “whistlestop tour” to communities across the country as the tree is transported from Alaska to Washington, D.C. The campaign is made possible with support from 2024 presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber, contributions from companies large and small, and with vital participation of volunteers locally and across America.

We invite everyone to learn more and follow the journey of the 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at:

Follow Alaska’s National Forests at:

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US Capitol Christmas Tree

2023 Tree from Monongahela National Forest Lit on West Lawn

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The holiday season has officially begun, as the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Monongahela National Forest was lit during a public ceremony. The Architect of the Capitol welcomed Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA), U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV) and Alex Mooney (R-WV), essay contest winner Ethan Reese and the Richwood High School Marching Band.

This year’s tree is a 63-foot Norway spruce from the Greenbrier Ranger District in West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest. The People’s Tree will be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. each evening through January 1, 2024. Visiting the tree is free and open to the public. No ticket is required.

Watch the ceremony

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Trees grown in Bruceton Mills to be displayed in Washington, D.C.

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With this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas celebration theme being “Endlessly Wild and Wonderful,” a number of smaller trees will be distributed throughout Washington D.C. and Joint Base Andrew. All of these trees will be provided by presenting sponsor 84 Lumber and Jim Rockis of Bruceton Mills, WV.

Jim Rockis became interested in quantitative genetics in the early 90s with help from late WVU professor Frank Cech. Since Cech passed back in 2009, Rockis has carried out the knowledge and skill needed to produce genetically superior trees, more specifically the Canaan Fir tree.

“There’s a lot of things that folks don’t know about in our state of West Virginia that we’re doing with forestry, we’re doing with horticulture, and I kind of look at myself as combining the two. What we do and is kind of neat, we’re supplying a lot of the seed that goes to high growers in Michigan, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts and even North Carolina,” Rockis said in an interview with 12 News.

The most popularly recognized Christmas tree is the Frasier Fir, though Rockis said that it’s rather difficult to grow. This encouraged Rockis’ experimentation of the Canaan Fir, a tree native of West Virginia, which he has developed to resemble a Frasier Fir yet with a better “shelf life.”

Rockis and 84 Lumber are working together to deliver a 25-foot Canaan Fir that Rockis selected himself to the federal USDA building in Washington, D.C.

“I’m very honored to participate in this to show what we do here, particularly with forestry, agriculture, horticulture, particularly in the private sector of West Virginia. We’re very excited to share with the nation what we’re doing up here, and how we’re developing genetically superior trees,” said Rockis.

Rockis hopes to be in D.C. whenever the trees arrive, and he hopes to encourage the youth by sharing his own story.

Originally published at WBOY on September 28, 2023.
Photo of 25′ Canaan Fir in the USDA building in Washington, D.C.

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U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour Kicks off in Elkins

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The 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will visit Elkins in early November on its way to Washington, D.C. The free event, set for Saturday, Nov. 4, will feature a parade, live music, and activities for children. 

“We are honored that the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will kick off its journey to Washington, D.C. from Elkins,” Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco said. “Our community looks forward to being a part of this gift to the nation and the joy it will bring to our community this holiday.”

The Nov. 4 festivities in Elkins will include remarks by invited government officials, free treats and hot chocolate, a coat drive, music, and children’s activities.

The event will begin with a parade, as local bands escort the tree down Third Street from the Jennings Randolph Federal Building to the Elkins Depot. Onlookers will receive small U.S. and West Virginia flags, provided by Our Town, Inc., to wave as the bands and trees go by. 

Parade viewers will then be encouraged to join the back of the parade and march along to the Depot. Once there, the festivities will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Elves from The Old Brick Playhouse will also join the celebration. The event is free and open to the public. 

The Elkins Depot Welcome Center will be decorated, and the nearby streets will be adorned with wreaths purchased in honor or memoriam by local citizens. The installation of these wreaths and six snowflakes on Randolph Avenue is being provided by a donation from FirstEnergy. 

The “Elfkins Planning Team” has been working on the arrangements for this kick-off event. The planning team includes Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco and his staff, the Randolph County Development Authority, the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber, Elkins Main Street, the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, the Old Brick Playhouse, Citizens Promoting Community, and Our Town, Inc. 

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Manchin Announces Ethan Reese as Winner of 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Essay Contest

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Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced Ethan Reese from Beverly Elementary School in Randolph County as the winner of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest. More than 400 entries were received from fourth graders across West Virginia. Ethan will travel to DC this holiday season to take part in the official tree-lighting ceremony alongside members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate and the public.

“I’m thrilled to announce Ethan Reese from Beverly Elementary School has won the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree essay contest out of more than 400 outstanding submissions,” said Senator Manchin. “Ethan will join us in DC this holiday season to officially light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which will be from West Virginia’s beautiful Monongahela National Forest. The celebration will showcase not only our remarkable forestry, but also our strong community spirit. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and shared with me what our Wild and Wonderful home means to you – I can’t wait to celebrate with Ethan, our fellow West Virginians and our fellow Americans.”

For this year’s essay contest, fourth grade students were invited to describe in 500 words why they love West Virginia’s forests and public lands, incorporating the theme of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree: “Endlessly Wild & Wonderful.” Senator Manchin selected Ethan to receive a once-in-a-lifetime all-expenses paid trip for him and one guardian to travel to Washington, DC to take part in the official tree-lighting ceremony alongside members of Congress and the public. Ethan will be invited to attend several other festivities during his visit at a date to be determined in late November or early December.

The Capitol Christmas Tree – known as “The People’s Tree” – lights up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol during the holiday season and is selected from a different national forest each year, a tradition that began in 1970 when Monongahela National Forest provided the first tree on behalf of the Forest Service. Monongahela National Forest also provided the tree in 1976. This year, the tree will be harvested in Randolph County from the Greenbrier Ranger District and will travel around West Virginia throughout November before heading to Washington.

For more information about the tree, travel route, schedule and special events, please click here.

A video of Senator Manchin congratulating Ethan is available here.

Ethan’s winning essay can be found below:

My name is Ethan Reese, and I am in 4th Grade at Beverly Elementary School. I live very close to where the Capitol Christmas Tree is from, the Monongahela National Forest. I spend a lot of time there with my family, and I am the great-great grandson of one of the very first Superintendents of the Monongahela National Forest. The biggest reason I love West Virginia forests and public lands is because they allow me to spend time with my family. I take photographs with my dad, hike with my mom, fish with my grandpa, identify wildflowers with my grandparents, travel and explore with my parents, and camp with all of my family.

One of my favorite things to do in West Virginia’s forests and public lands is to identify plants and animals, especially birds. I did see a black bear once, which was pretty exciting. I really enjoy wildflower identification the most. My parents and grandparents tell me I “get it honest” because my grandfather is a biologist, and my great grandfather was a botanist. My great grandfather even discovered a plant on Cheat Mountain that was thought to have been extinct in West Virginia. When I travel around the state with my parents, I like to watch for wildflowers, listen to birds and smell the fresh air. The sounds of the rivers are very relaxing. I have visited many places with my parents in West Virginia, but still have a lot of other places I would like to visit.

Our forest and public lands were something that allowed my family to still go outside and explore during the pandemic. For us, most of that was in the Monongahela National Forest, where I visited the Virgin Timbers on Cheat Mountain for the first time. My grandma is a retired history teacher, and she told us that over 100 years ago most of West Virginia looked like those Virgin Timbers. I learned that most of our forests were clear-cut long ago, but there were many people who helped restore our forests. One of those people was my great-great grandfather, Arthur Wood, who became Superintendent of the Monongahela National forest in 1931. He set a plan in motion to plant millions of trees to rebuild the forest for future generations. Thanks to those efforts, I am lucky my generation knows the Mountain State as one covered in Endless trees and Wonderful wildflowers, and home to many Wild animals.

I love that I have a great connection to one of West Virginia’s forest treasures, the Monongahela National Forest, through family history and my love of nature! I am excited that the Capitol Christmas tree is from the forest where I love to explore, and I know my great-great grandfather would be so happy that, almost 100 years later, our beautiful Monongahela National Forest, and other state lands, have been kept Endlessly Wild and Wonderful!

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Shawnee Tribe Names 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 

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Monongahela National Forest announced today that the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree has been named “wa’feem’tekwi” by the Shawnee Tribe. The name means “bright tree” in the Shawnee language and is pronounced phonetically “wa thame tech we”.

“We are grateful for the strong relationship the Eastern Region of the Forest Service has with the Shawnee Tribe,” said Regional Forester Gina Owens. “And we deeply appreciate the name they have bestowed on the tree that will be harvested from Monongahela National Forest this holiday season.”

The tribe has also contributed handmade ornaments and messaging for the educational exhibit that will tour with the tree in November. After the holidays, the Shawnee Tribe will use wood from the tree at their ceremonial grounds in White Oak, Oklahoma.

The Forest Service invited the Shawnee Tribe to name the tree as part of the ongoing celebration of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree initiative and to honor the agency’s unique nation-to-nation relationship with the Shawnee Tribe.

“On behalf of Monongahela National Forest, I’d like to thank the Shawnee Tribe for naming this special tree. Names are important and “wa’feem’tekwi” reminds us of our connection to the Shawnee Tribe and the importance of our mutual relationship,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest. “This is the third time Monongahela National Forest has provided the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree from West Virginia.”

About the Shawnee Language Immersion Program

In 2020, almost immediately following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Shawnee Tribe leadership declared a state of emergency for the Shawnee Language, and the Decade of Shawnee began. The Shawnee Language Immersion Program (SLIP) initially started with in-person classes in three Oklahoma communities but moved to virtual classes due to the dangers posed by the pandemic. SLIP is now able to reach all Shawnees across the continent and even the globe!

First language Shawnee speaker George Blanchard helps the language department by creating a curriculum true to Shawnee culture. SLIP focuses on auditory learning and prioritizes speaking Shawnee over reading and writing. The team has also developed an online dictionary and archive through the Indigenous Languages Digital Archive and continues adding words as the program grows. SLIP’s goal is for all Shawnees to have access to language resources to ensure Shawnee can be used in daily life again.

Learn more about the Shawnee Tribe and the Shawnee Language Immersion Program at https://www.shawnee-nsn.gov/. A spokesperson for the Shawnee Tribe is available for media inquiries at media@shawnee-tribe.com.

About the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Since 1970, the Forest Service has been providing a tree harvested from a national forest to serve as the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This year, the selected tree is a 63-foot Norway spruce located on the Greenbrier Ranger District in Randolph County, home to the Supervisor’s Office for Monongahela National Forest. This annual project is made possible with support from partners, including non-profit Choose Outdoors, along with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small, as well as volunteers locally and across America. We invite you to follow the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative at https://www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

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Monongahela National Forest Announces 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Tour Schedule

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Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. Monongahela National Forest, in partnership with nonprofit partner Choose Outdoors and presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, will bring this special gift from West Virginia to Washington, D.C., with a series of events in communities along the way.

Between Nov. 4-17, local communities will welcome the 63-foot Norway spruce at parks, plazas, schools, memorials, main streets, and more. Well-wishers can see the wrapped-up tree on its extra-long trailer, sign the banners attached to each side, learn about Monongahela National Forest, purchase U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree merchandise, and enjoy the holiday spirit in their communities.

“We are grateful to the communities of West Virginia for hosting these special events,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest, “and the many sponsors that make this tour possible. Our staff looks forward to sharing the holiday excitement and fun with people of all ages on the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree tour.”

The tour will kick off Saturday, November 4, with a special celebration in Elkins, home to the headquarters of Monongahela National Forest. Hosted in partnership with the Elkins-Randolph Chamber of Commerce and Elkins Mainstreet, the city will become “Elfkins,” with annual holiday lights and festivities planned at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, including an appearance by Mark Bowe, host of Magnolia Network’s Barnwood Builders, at the AHF Products® booth.

The schedule of tour events includes:

  • Saturday, Nov. 4, 6:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. Elkins Depot Welcome Center (315 Railroad Ave, Elkins, WV 26241)
  • Sunday, Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Summersville Arena and Conference Center (3 Armory Way, Summersville, WV 26651)
  • Monday, Nov. 6, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mitchell Chevrolet (400 8th St, Marlinton, WV 24954)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 7, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tamarack Marketplace (One Tamarack Place, Beckley, WV 25801); 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. WV State Capitol Complex (1716 Kanawha Blvd E, Charleston, WV 25305)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Former ACF Industries Parking Lot (3rd Avenue between 22nd and 24th streets, Huntington, WV 25703)
  • Thursday, Nov. 9, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. White Palace at Wheeling Park (1801 National Road, Wheeling, WV 26003)
  • Friday, Nov. 10, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 84 Lumber (3208 Earl L. Core Road, Morgantown, WV 26508)
  • Saturday, Nov. 11, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Operation Welcome Home at Mylan Park (452 Mylan Park Lane, Morgantown, WV 26501); 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. West Virginia University at Downtown Morgantown (243 High St, Morgantown, WV 26505)
  • Sunday, Nov. 12, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Swilled Dog/Raymond’s Gymnastic Center (28 Industrial Park Road, Upper Tract, WV 26866)
  • Monday, Nov. 13, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. DavisYard (533 William Avenue, Davis, WV 26260)
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. WV Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (301 E Main St, Romney, WV 26757)
  • Wednesday, Nov. 15, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center (146 Buffalo Dr, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425)
  • Thursday, Nov. 16, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Joint Base Andrews (Base only)
  • Friday, Nov. 17, Delivery to West Lawn, U.S. Capitol Building

Festivities are free and open to the public for all to enjoy. Tour dates and locations are subject to change at any time. Monitor www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/calendar for updates. Beginning November 4, the tree’s journey can be tracked online at capitoltreetracker.com, hosted by Spireon, a Solera solution.

In addition to presenting sponsor 84 Lumber, partners supporting the 2023 journey include Kenworth Truck Company, Werner Enterprises, Hale Truck and Trailer, Spireon, a Solera solution, WCHS ABC 8/FOX 11, Verizon Frontline, Society of American Foresters, All Crane & Equipment Rental, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Truckload Carriers Association, AHF Products, Bruce®, Armstrong Flooring™ and Robbins® flooring brands, Great West Casualty Company, Warwood Tool, LexisNexis VitalChek Network, Inc. and others.

The top priority is the safety of tour staff, event attendees, and the tree; local public health guidelines will be followed. We ask the public to be aware of the large truck’s substantial blind spots, wide turns, and longer stopping distances on our roads as they welcome the tree to their communities.

Follow the journey of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and be a part of the festivities at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com, @uscapitolchristmastree on Facebook and Instagram, or the Monongahela National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf and https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF.

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2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Selected from Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest

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ELKINS, W.Va., July 24, 2023 — The staff of Monongahela National Forest is excited to announce that a 63-foot Norway spruce from the Greenbrier Ranger District has been selected to serve as the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree this holiday season.

The tree was selected by Jim Kaufmann, Director of the Capitol Grounds for the Architect of the Capitol, and is one of eight candidate trees that he personally visited on the Forest recently.

“Selecting a tree to adorn the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol comes with very specific requirements,” said Jim Kaufmann, Director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum at the Architect of the Capitol. “Thanks to the pre-planning of Monongahela National Forest staff, we were able to select a very traditional and graceful Norway spruce to represent Monongahela National Forest and wild and wonderful West Virginia at the U.S. Capitol during the holidays this winter.”

The People’s Tree will be harvested from the Greenbrier Ranger District, which was home to the very first Christmas tree provided from the Forest Service to the U.S. Capitol in 1970, also a Norway spruce. A red spruce was provided from the Gauley Ranger District in 1976.

“It’s a great honor for our district to once again provide the People’s Tree,” said Jack Tribble, district ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District. “Our staff is excited to be a part of the project, including the harvest and packaging of the tree, to ensure it has a safe trip to Washington, D.C., this fall.”

The tree will be harvested in early November before making its journey through communities in West Virginia before heading to Washington, D.C., arriving at the U.S. Capitol in late November. The precise location of the tree is confidential until the harvest in early November.

The Architect of the Capitol’s team will decorate the tree with thousands of handcrafted ornaments from the people of West Virginia. The tree will be lit sometime after Thanksgiving during a ceremony with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, part of a long-held tradition.

Non-profit project partner Choose Outdoors, along with presenting sponsor 84 Lumber and a host of partners, sponsors, and volunteers, are contributing funding and in-kind support of this project and its theme, Endlessly Wild and Wonderful.

“We are grateful for our shared partnerships and engaged community partners and look forward to representing them on a national stage in D.C. with this locally grown Norway spruce, which will make the perfect U.S. Capitol Christmas tree,” said Shawn Cochran, forest supervisor for Monongahela National Forest.

Norway spruce are an introduced species in West Virginia and have become naturalized across the state. These trees are often raised and sold on Christmas tree farms.

The Forest Service first undertook large scale forest reforestation projects in Monongahela National Forest starting in 1925, just five years after the Forest was established. Norway spruce were often planted, along with other non-native and native species, as they were known for their rapid growth rate. More recently, the Forest Service has worked closely with partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Green Forests Work, and the Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative to restore native red spruce ecosystems across the national forest.

About the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

 The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 53-year tradition in which one of America’s 154 national forests provides a tree for the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. The project is made possible with support from partners including non-profit Choose Outdoors along with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small as well as volunteers locally and across America. We invite you to follow the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project:

  • Facebook: USCapitolChristmasTree and facebook.com/MonongahelaNF
  • Twitter: @USCapitolTree
  • Instagram: @USCapitolChristmasTree
  • #EndlesslyWildandWonderful

To learn more about the history of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, visit https://www.aoc.gov/what-we-do/programs-ceremonies/capitol-christmas-tree. Follow along at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

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New Logo Revealed for 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Project

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Amy Albright, Project Manager for the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Project, has announced the new logo designed especially for the project.

“All of us at Monongahela National Forest are so excited to share this logo which was specifically designed with the landscape of West Virginia in mind,” said Albright. “We are proud of the Mountain State, and we worked to ensure that the logo reflects that.”

Monongahela National Forest has provided the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree previously in 1970 and 1976. This year’s theme is “Endlessly Wild and Wonderful”.

The Forest Service has partnered with the non-profit Choose Outdoors to assist in the creation of a conservation education campaign about the multi-use mission of the Forest Service. The public will be able to join in the fun through virtual and in-person events throughout the year, including making ornaments to adorn the tree. Staff will also provide outreach programs to schools and youth organizations across the state.

“We see this project as an opportunity to celebrate the state of West Virginia and share the mission and values of the Forest Service,” said Forest Supervisor Shawn Cochran. “Our project goals include engaging with children, communities, and non-profit organizations, and strengthening existing relationships with stakeholders including tribal, state, and local governments.”

Once the tree is selected and harvested, it will be toured around communities in West Virginia and surrounding states before being delivered to the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The initiative is made possible with support from the presenting sponsor, 84 Lumber, and with cash and in-kind contributions from companies large and small, along with vital support from volunteers locally and across America.

Monongahela National Forest was established in 1920 and includes more than 920,000 acres of federal land in 10 West Virginia counties. It’s a working forest managed for multiple uses including outdoor recreation, range, timber, water, fish and wildlife, and wilderness.

Follow the journey of the 2023 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and be a part of the festivities at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com, @uscapitolchristmastree on Instagram, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/USCapitolChristmasTree, or the Monongahela National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf and https://www.facebook.com/MonongahelaNF.

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