Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Town of Manteo, welcomed the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree for a stop Sunday on its tour of the East Coast.
Each year, a different national forest provides a tree to light up the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season. The National Forests in North Carolina will bring the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from the Pisgah National Forest to Washington, D.C., including a short visit to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site on Roanoke Island.
Before heading off to the next stop on the tour, the tree made a side trip to the Bodie Island Lighthouse on Monday morning.
The @USCapitolTree made a quick stop in front of the Bodie Island Lighthouse this morning. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/n1BsCE5QLu
— Cape Hatteras National Seashore (@CapeHatterasNPS) November 14, 2022
The 78-foot-tall red spruce tree was harvested from the Pisgah National Forest on Nov. 2, and will be driven nearly 1,000-miles, stopping along the way at a series of outdoor community celebrations before the final stop at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 18.
Festivities during the tree’s visit to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site included remarks by public officials, a performance by the Manteo Elementary School Choir, activities and ornament making with over 15 local partner organizations and a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.
For U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree news and tour information, visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com. Track the tree from the National Forests in North Carolina to the U.S. Capitol at www.capitoltreetracker.com.