By Associated Press - Wednesday, November 11, 2020

DENVER (AP) - A Christmas tree from a remote part of western Colorado is scheduled to tour the state before traveling across the country to become a holiday attraction at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The Capitol Christmas Tree is expected to make stops around its home state on a big rig truck before heading east, Colorado Public Radio reports.

The 55-foot (17-meter) Engelmann spruce began its journey Tuesday in Norwood, not far from Telluride, and will continue to move around Colorado through Sunday.

The itinerary includes Denver and Grand Junction, but also many smaller communities including Ouray, Salida and Burlington.

The coronavirus pandemic has shortened this year’s tour and made many locations drive-by only, but visitors can still see the tree up close during visits to Paonia and Gunnison. There are also opportunities to watch the motorcade pass through several towns.

Former Colorado U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who received his commercial driver’s license to help put himself through college decades ago, drove the Capitol Christmas Tree to Washington twice.

During his most recent trip in 2012, he observed the tree’s popularity in rural communities.

“The smaller the town, the bigger the crowd,” Nighthorse Campbell said.

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