Nevada’s first-ever U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the Silver Belle, has officially arrived in the nation’s capital and is now being installed on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The 53-foot red fir, harvested near Mount Rose on October 24, will be lit during a ceremony on December 2 at 5 p.m. EST.
The tree’s journey has captured attention across Nevada and beyond. Karen Garaventa Baggett, former Public Affairs Officer for the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF), said watching a Nevada tree selected for the Capitol is especially meaningful. “This one feels personal,” she said, recalling attending the Nevada Day Parade, signing the banner, and seeing the crowds gather to wish the tree well before it embarked on its 3,700-mile tour.
This is the first time in history that a U.S. Capitol Tree has come from Nevada, despite the HTNF being the largest national forest in the lower 48 with 6.3 million acres. The U.S. Forest Service has supplied the Capitol Tree since 1970.
Silver Belle is a red fir (Abies magnifica) standing 53 feet tall, 20 inches in diameter, with a 16-foot canopy. To keep the tree hydrated on its cross-country trip, crews used an unusual trick: toilet bowl wax. The wax created a watertight seal between the trunk and an 80-pound water bladder bag, which held 15–30 gallons a day, depending on the weather.
The theme for this year’s display — “Starry Skies to Neon Lights: Spirit of the Silver State” — reflects Nevada’s contrast between wide-open rural skies and its famous illuminated cities. Transported by a Kenworth T680 truck and Hale trailer stretching 110 feet, the Silver Belle made whistle stops in nine states: Nevada – stopping in Lovelock on November 2 – Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland. Thousands of people turned out along the way. Local bands performed, dignitaries spoke, and Forest Service staff greeted families eager to see the tree and purchase official merchandise.
Nevada communities also played a major role in the decorations. Schools, tribes, agencies, and residents created a record 22,730 ornaments and 50 handmade tree skirts, with Southwest Airlines transporting the ornaments to Washington.
The Architect of the Capitol oversees the selection, transportation, and installation of the Capitol Tree each year. During the December 2 ceremony, the tree will be lit by the Speaker of the House alongside Grady Armstrong, a fourth-grade student from Virginia City, who will read his award-winning essay about Nevada’s public lands before helping throw the switch. Members of Nevada FFA leadership, including Liam Few and Max Bushey, will also attend.
A full gallery of Silver Belle’s journey, including photos and videos from the cross-country tour, is available at uscapitolchristmastree.com and on the project's Facebook page.
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