🎄 From Nevada’s mountains to the heart of Washington D.C., ‘Silver Belle’ is lighting up the Capitol West Lawn this holiday season!
This isn’t just any Christmas tree; it's Nevada’s first-ever U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, carrying the spirit of the Silver State all the way to the nation’s capital.
According to the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Facebook page, this season celebrates Nevada’s remarkable gift to the nation. “This season, we celebrate Nevada’s remarkable gift to the nation, a tree that carried the spirit of the Silver State from starry skies to neon lights, and all the way to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Thank you for being part of this tree’s journey and for helping make The People’s Tree a symbol of connection, pride, and shared tradition,” the post reads.
Harvested from the Silver State in October, Silver Belle will be lit from sundown until 11 p.m. Eastern Time through January 1, 2026.
“I was so proud to represent Nevadans as we officially kick off the holiday season at the U.S. Capitol with a Christmas tree that was harvested in our state for the first time ever,” said Senator Jacky Rosen. “Like every Nevadan, I’m honored to see ‘Silver Belle’ on the Capitol lawn, bringing a piece of our state to light up the nation’s capital. Nevadans know that our public lands are among the best in the nation, and tonight we saw that natural beauty on display.”
A fourth-grade student from Virginia City won Nevada’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree lighting contest with an essay that stood out to organizers and was given the privilege of lighting the tree. Southwest Airlines sponsored the child’s travel and revealed the surprise during the recent Nevada Day Parade. The airline also transported thousands of handmade ornaments created by people across the state for display on the tree.
This is the first U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree ever provided by Nevada. The program, known nationwide as the “People’s Tree,” began in 1964. Since 1970, the U.S. Forest Service has collaborated with the Architect of the Capitol to select a tree that meets specific criteria from a different national forest each year. Last year’s tree came from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.
The 2025 Capitol Christmas Tree is a 53-foot red fir nicknamed "Silver Belle" from the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada.
SMeet Grady from Virginia City: He wrote a fantastic essay this year that won him the honor of lighting the very first U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Nevada.
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) December 2, 2025
I'm very glad to welcome him and his family to the Senate. Good luck tomorrow, Grady! pic.twitter.com/1fEdXqwPxq
