Lovelock is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration as the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, a
53-foot red fir nicknamed Silver Belle, makes a stop outside the Pershing County Courthouse on
Sunday, Nov. 2, as part of its cross-country Whistlestop Tour.
The tree, harvested from Nevada’s own Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, will soon take its
place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., representing not just the Silver
State’s natural beauty, but also the creativity and generosity of thousands of Nevadans who came
together to make it shine.
Nevada reached its goal this fall of crafting 10,000 handmade ornaments to decorate the People’s
Tree. From classrooms to distilleries, senior centers to libraries, volunteers across the state
contributed pinecones, beads, wood slices, and hand-painted treasures that celebrate Nevada’s
desert horizons, mountain peaks, and frontier spirit.
Here in Pershing County, 4-H members, Lovelock Paiute Tribe, the Senior Center, volunteers,
and several community groups joined in, hosting local workshops and contributing hundreds of
pieces that will soon hang among Silver Belle’s boughs.
The effort stretched far beyond Lovelock. Frey Ranch Distillery in Fallon invited guests to raise
a glass and a paintbrush during its annual Whiskey Harvest, turning the event into an ornament-
making celebration. The Nevada State Museum hosted a public decorating day, and families
gathered at the Patagonia Outlet in Reno, the Tonopah Senior Center, and fairs and festivals
across the state to lend their creative touch.
Thanks to that statewide enthusiasm, the Forest Service announced in early October that Nevada
had surpassed its ornament goal. “We did it, Nevada!” organizers wrote. “Every pinecone, bead,
wood slice, and hand-painted treasure will travel all the way to Washington D.C., to showcase
the heart and creativity of the Silver State.”
The Lovelock stop will be held at 400 Main Street from 1 to 3 p.m., outside the historic Pershing
County Courthouse. The public is invited to meet Forest Service rangers, learn about the care of
Nevada’s national forests, and take photos with the semi-truck carrying Silver Belle on its
journey east.
Visitors can also take part in free hands-on ornament-making activities, one last chance for locals
to contribute to the display before the tree departs Nevada. The stop is made possible by Coeur
Rochester, which partnered with the Forest Service to bring the Whistlestop Tour through
Lovelock and to help share the story of the People’s Tree across America.
“When I started my career, I never thought I would have the privilege to select the tree for the
United States Capitol that represents the People’s Tree,” said Jim Kaufmann, Executive Director
of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum for the Architect of the Capitol. Kaufmann, working with the
U.S. Forest Service, helped choose Silver Belle earlier this year, calling the red fir a symbol of
the land, the people, and the communities who care for it.
Silver Belle’s journey began high in the Carson Ranger District, where she was harvested amid
the same slopes that gave birth to Nevada’s alpine skiing history. The tree will travel more than
4,000 miles, visiting small towns and big cities on its way to Washington.
Before reaching D.C., the tour will make stops in Carson City, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas, and beyond,
with Lovelock proudly serving as one of the final Nevada celebrations before Silver Belle leaves
the state.
This year’s theme, “From the Silver State to the Nation’s Capital” also highlights young voices.
In September, fourth-grade students from across Nevada entered an essay contest to share what
makes the state’s public lands special. The winning writer, Grady Armstrong of Virginia City,
learned last month that he will travel with his family to Washington D.C. to help light the 2025
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
As Silver Belle continues eastward, the Forest Service and its partners invite everyone to follow
along at uscapitolchristmastree.com
.
For Lovelock and Pershing County residents, the stop is more than a festive photo opportunity,
it’s a symbol of Nevada pride. Every handmade ornament and every local effort, from 4-H youth
to senior volunteers, will soon glimmer on the Capitol lawn, carrying a bit of the Great Basin’s
heart all the way to the nation’s capital.
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