Truckin’ Around the Capitol Christmas Tree – A Recap
By SkyBitz • Published November 7, 2017 • 5 minute read
Have you ever wondered where the U.S. Capitol Building gets its Christmas tree and how it comes to town? SkyBitz recently helped track the cross-country journey of the 2017 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Montana to D.C.
The tree hitched a ride on a truck bed fitted with three SkyBitz trailer tracking devices, which transmitted signals communicating its location every five minutes. Followers could Track The Tree on the SkyBitz website and social media channels for festive fun as it traveled more than 3,500 miles and stopped in 21 towns.
Watching the Engelmann Spruce tree’s journey certainly got some people in the holiday spirit. It also made us think about all the items we wish we could locate like:
- Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer
- Keys
- Remote controls
- All of the left socks to go with the right socks
Of course, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree isn’t the only thing you can keep tabs on with technology. SkyBitz regularly helps businesses get real-time visibility of trailers and intermodal containers. Using SkyBitz, you can see the locations of the following (and more!) on demand:
- Leased trucks or trailers
- Rented equipment
- Owned trailers
- Vehicle fleets
- Assets
- Intermodal containers
- Cargo
Capitol Christmas Tree Twitter Roundup
Throughout the tree’s journey, SkyBitz tweeted updates about its location and counted down to its D.C. lighting ceremony. You can get a bird’s eye view and experience the tree’s roadtrip in our Twitter roundup below!
- The 79-foot-tall tree started its journey from the Kootenai National Forest in northwest Montana. 2017 is the 10th consecutive year that SkyBitz has tracked the Capitol tree.
The @USCapitolTree is ready to begin its journey from the @KootenaiNF! Pictured here is sawyer Pete Tallmadge, a fifth generation sawyer with his family. #ItsAllYours pic.twitter.com/PAVjbDFsX0
— National Forest Fdn. (@NationalForests) November 9, 2017
- The tree eventually shipped off toward its first destination in Eureka, MT.
We’ll be in Eureka in less than a week! Hope to see you there! https://t.co/gqTWL4kvMY
— US Capitol Tree (@USCapitolTree) November 9, 2017
- Some industry news publications, like Fleet News Daily, wrote about the tree’s annual journey along the way.
SkyBitz Tracks U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Journey for 10th Consecutive Year https://t.co/hDJ88IEAxN pic.twitter.com/xUSWIkJKsC
— Fleet News Daily (@FleetNewsDaily) November 10, 2017
- A local newspaper wrote about a Bozeman, MT boy who was selected to light the tree at the outdoor ceremony in D.C. on Dec. 6.
Always great to have a child from the state help light the @USCapitolTree via @GFTribune https://t.co/TmDt5CmQnM
— National Forest Fdn. (@NationalForests) November 9, 2017
- The tree was loaded onto a truck bed outfitted with three SkyBitz devices that transmitted location signals so people could follow its trek.
The tree has been cut and we are on the road! Excited to kick off the tour today! Eureka then Whitefish! https://t.co/yF5fdF9Chi
— US Capitol Tree (@USCapitolTree) November 13, 2017
- The tree arrived at its first location in Eureka, MT and made several additional stops in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland.
Today is the day! Our first stop on the tour is Eureka, MT and we hope to see you there! Help us track the tree with @TracktheTree #USCapitolChristmasTree https://t.co/L7CmiAkG7W pic.twitter.com/NuULYhpQ8n
— US Capitol Tree (@USCapitolTree) November 13, 2017
- Twitter followers were excited to count down the days to the tree lighting and see the tree on its way from Montana to D.C.
So excited that the National Christmas Tree is on its way to Washington, DC. Tracking it is FUN!!! https://t.co/ZJW6OkM6AW
— Peg Gentle (@pjgentle) November 20, 2017
- After stopping in several locations, the tree arrived in Paducah, KY just before Thanksgiving.
Check out great photos from the cutting of the @USCapitolTree It arrives in Paducah for #ChristmasinthePark Nov. 22! https://t.co/ktA6kPst94 pic.twitter.com/i2e908r4Yl
— Paducah Power System (@PaducahPower) November 9, 2017
- The tree made its arrival in D.C. after more than 3,500 miles of travel.
Arrving at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week
pic.twitter.com/O2pF1r0NCD— US Capitol Tree (@USCapitolTree) November 28, 2017
- Followers were able to view the entire multi-state journey online.
3566.12 miles later, the @USCapitolTree is at the United States Capitol! Recap the entire journey at https://t.co/A4AyjQkbuZ and join us for the official tree lighting on December 6! #TracktheTree
— TrackTheTree SkyBitz (@TracktheTree) November 29, 2017
- People gathered at the Capitol Christmas tree for the official lighting ceremony in D.C. on Dec. 6.
The lighting of the 2017 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is happening now! Catch the live stream of the ceremony on Facebook. https://t.co/zAgEYkT3tG #knf2017 #uscapitolchristmastree
— US Capitol Tree (@USCapitolTree) December 6, 2017
- The lit tree illuminated the U.S. Capitol Building’s west lawn in Washington D.C.
The 2017 #CapitolChristmasTree sparkles and delights! pic.twitter.com/zWZCfkmeD6
— U.S. Capitol (@uscapitol) December 6, 2017
What another great Track the Tree adventure it’s been! Maybe next year we will figure out how to track Santa and his sleigh. Until then, Happy Holidays!”
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