Mitchell welcomes U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at Corn Palace

MITCHELL — Mitchell was lit up with Christmas spirit to greet the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree on its 19th stop on the way to the nation’s Capitol. Mitchell residents, greater Mitchell area elementary students, and the Dakota Wesleyan University Jazz Band welcomed the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree in front of the Corn Palace on Thursday morning. The tree is on a 21-day journey from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Community members signed the wrapped banner enclosing the tree, met Smokey the Bear and peered through the protective plexiglass of the semi-trailer to take a look at the tree. The tree remains enclosed during the entire transport. The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made its last appearance in Mitchell in Nov. 2015. This year’s tree is a 110-year old 76‑foot Engelmann Spruce from the Lochsa-Powell Ranger District.

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