Capitol Christmas Tree Ceremony Highlights Nevada’s First Tree

On December 2, 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson and members of Nevada’s congressional delegation lit the Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol, marking the start of the holiday season in Washington, D.C.

The tree, affectionately named “Silver Bell” in tribute to Nevada’s nickname, was revealed during a ceremony that featured Grady Armstrong, a fourth-grader who won the Capitol Christmas Tree Essay Contest. Grady had the honor of speaking to the attendees after a few words from Speaker Johnson.

“You don’t have to go far to enjoy Nevada. From my school playground, you can see hundreds of miles to the east, where the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest lies,” Grady shared. “We want everyone to appreciate how special our public lands and national forests are. They’re full of wonders, from elk and mule deer to big animals like bighorn sheep.”

The “Silver Bell” tree stands 53 feet tall and hails from the vast 5.6 million-acre Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This is a notable occasion as it’s the first time trees from this specific forest have adorned the Capitol’s West Lawn and the first use of Nevada wood in 61 years.

The tree made a long journey, about 3,000 miles, to reach its destination. It was ornamented with around 6,000 LED lights and over 5,000 decorations, many crafted by children across Nevada.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, which has facilitated the Capitol tree since 1970, the tree is estimated to be roughly 50 years old, indicated by its impressive growth rings. This means the tree began sprouting during the era of President Gerald Ford when gas prices were just about 53 cents a gallon and the Vietnam War was nearing its end.

Duncan Leo, a forest ranger, mentioned that the tree could have possibly lived for another 200 years had it not been selected for the holiday display.

The beautifully decorated tree will be illuminated nightly from dusk until 11 PM, remaining on display until early January.