Has SD ever supplied the National Christmas Tree in Washington?

South Dakota has provided the tree for the National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C., two times since the tradition started in the 1920s. A third tree was selected to be displayed at the U.S. Capitol in 1997.

The trees are placed annually near the White House on the Ellipse. The Rushmore State provided the tree for the display in 1955 and 1970. 

In 1955, a 67-foot Black Hills spruce from Nemo was selected. A commemorative sign was placed at the site. In 1970, a 78-foot tree from the Black Hills was transported on a train that derailed twice in Nebraska. Winds blew the tree over on the weekend before the event, requiring new branches to be affixed to it. Later, lights on the bottom half of the tree exploded.

The 1997 tree that was placed in front of the Capitol building was a Black Hills Spruce.