The way to the nation’s Capitol

MEEKER I To become a true American Christmas tree, the Capitol Tree must travel through the great states to Washington, D.C. The town of Meeker has been honored with the chance to give a gift to the nation with the 2012 Capitol Christmas Tree that will stand over the holiday season on the Capitol lawn.
After leaving the town of Meeker, the Capitol Christmas Tree will travel to the neighboring town of Rangely then to the ski town of Steamboat Springs. The tree will then move to the home of Lake Dillon in Dillon, Colo., to make its way to Glenwood Springs, famous for the world’s largest outdoor hot springs pool. The caravan will then travel to the gateway of Colorado: Grand Junction. Montrose, Colo., is the next stop before the tree makes its way to the home of Mesa Verde in Cortez. The narrow gauge railroad falls next in the town of Durango, Colo., before the next skiing town of Pagosa Springs, Colo., followed by Alamosa, Colo., where giant sand dunes roam the land. Wrapping up Colorado, the tree will visit the home of one of Colorado’s famous “fourteeners,” Pikes Peak, in Colorado Springs. Finally, the tree will reach Denver, Colorado’s capitol, followed by two more stops in the Centennial State, as the tree visits the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and the “Smile Hi” city of La Junta.
The first stop after leaving the great state of Colorado is Albuquerque, N.M., before embarking to the home of the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The “Big D” is next as the tree travels through the city of Dallas before entering the border town of Oklahoma City. Next the tree will pass through the city of two states, Kansas City, which lies in Kansas and Missouri. To make its way East, the tree will pass through the city “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis, Mo.
Once in the east, the Capitol Christmas Tree will pass through “Music City,” Nashville, Tenn. The host of the 1996 summer olympics, Atlanta, Ga., will be next to host the tree. Then it’s off to Ashville, N.C., and from there to the birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson: Staunton, Va. The Capitol Christmas Tree’s itenerary will wrap up in Allentown and Milford, Penn.
On Nov. 26, the tree will arrive in Washington, D.C., where it will be honored and stand as a symbol for a nationwide Christmas celebration.