US Capitol Christmas tree rolls through South Dakota

MITCHELL, S.D. — A 74-foot-tall Christmas tree bound for the U.S. Capitol is passing through South Dakota.

The semitrailer hauling the tree made a short stop in Rapid City on Wednesday, and on Thursday it was stopping at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

Mitchell Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Katie Knutson tells The Daily Republic the Mitchell visit wasn’t in the original travel schedule for the tree. One of the people caring for the tree during its journey across the country saw the Corn Palace last summer and decided to add the stop.

The Lutz spruce was chosen from the Chugach National Forest as part of a program run by the U.S. Forest Service. The tree will be decorated with more than 2,000 ornaments made by Alaska children, residents and tribe members.

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