Senator Hauls Capitol Christmas Tree to D.C.

December 8, 2000 9:20 AM, EST

What may have appeared as a Conestoga wagon to the undiscerning eye was actually the trailer bearing the Capitol Christmas tree. The 64-foot Colorado Blue Spruce arrived in Washington, D.C., Dec. 4 after a 10-day trek from Colorado’s Pike National Forest, near Colorado Springs.

	Michael Varhola - Transport Topics
	The Capitol Christmas tree appears when the ‘Conestoga wagon’ tarp is pulled back.

Hundreds of onlookers greeted Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) as he drove the Mack truck to its final destination at the foot of the U.S. Capitol’s west front.

Campbell took the Mack’s helm for much of the 2,000-mile journey, which began Nov. 24 and partially followed the Sante Fe Trail, a route from the pioneer days stretching 909 miles from Missouri to Santa Fe, N.M.

Campbell has a commercial driver license and had been gearing up for the big day, said James Doyle, communications director for the lawmaker.

Anyone wanting detailed information on the tree’s voyage can visit the tree’s Web site at www.holidaytree2000.org.

For the full story, see the Dec. 11 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.