For the first time, Alaska is providing the Christmas tree for the U.S. Capitol Building and it is hailing from Seward.
Over a year ago, six trees were identified as possible options.
Superintendent of the Capitol Grounds Ted Bechtol flew to Alaska and chose the 74-foot Lutz spruce tree near Seward according to GeNeil Flaherty with the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
Flaherty: “They were looking for a tree that was healthy, one that was not going to leave a big footprint when they took the tree, and they wanted it to also represent Alaska.”
The tree will tour 15 locations on the way to D.C. with Seward band Blackwater Railroad Company. There will also be a team of 6-10 people traveling with the 90-year-old spruce.
Flaherty: “The caretakers will make sure that it’s hydrated, it will have a water bladder attached to the trunk of it, it will be enclosed and have humidifiers to keep it from drying out, they will be keeping an eye on it several times a day.”
The tree will be cut by Certified Forest Service employee Dan Osborn on Tuesday, October 27, at noon.
That evening there will be a celebration at the Seward SeaLife Center where 15-20 Kenai Peninsula youth will travel with Yaghanen Coordinator Michael Bernard, who oversees the cultural youth programs with the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
Bernard: “My responsibility is bringing our youth dancers and drummers to go down and help with the festivities we’re going to perform at the event. We’ve practiced performing every week and we’ve been practicing since mid-September.”
They will perform at 5 pm in the Seward SeaLife Center.
The tree has received over $140,000 in corporate and private donations to make the trip to the Capitol, a journey which has been in the works since 2012.
To track the tree’s progress, click here.