Capitol Tree in Cody

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By Penny Preston

Story Published: Nov 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 15, 2010 at 12:14 PM MDT

CODY, WYOMING - The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree came to Cody Sunday, on its way across Wyoming toward Washington, D.C. It’s the first Capitol Christmas tree from the Cowboy state, and it’s taking a lot of cowboy goodwill with it.

Hundreds of people waited and cheered as the huge tractor-trailer carrying the Engleman Spruce made it’s way down Main Street before it stopped in front of Buffalo Bill’s Historic Irma Hotel.

The 67-foot tree weights 9,000 pounds. It was cut in the Bridger-Teton National Forest south of Jackson. It took handlers three days to fold the thirty-foot wide tree into the truck trailer.

Well-wishers autographed the side of the trailer and peaked inside at the tree, but the tree had to be kept enclosed and protected for its long trip to D.C.

Capitol Christmas Tree Coordinator for 2010, Mary Cernicek, explained how they keep the tree moist, “You know one of those big tractor-trailer tires. We just sliced and then we took three guys to pull it up over the trunk of the tree, and then we nailed together one over a wooden frame and then we filled that with water. The tree’s going through 65 gallons of water a day.”

The Capitol Tree made stops in several Wyoming towns before coming to Cody. It stayed in Cody, guarded, overnight, before starting down the road toward D.C. Monday. It’ll be displayed on the Capitol's west lawn in December.

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