The holiday season arrived early in Chillicothe on November 17, 2025, as the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree—known as “Silver Belle”—made a special appearance at the Kenworth building. Residents gathered to welcome the 53-foot red fir, which is en route to its final destination on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
This year’s tree comes from Nevada’s Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, marking the first time the state has been selected to provide the Capitol Christmas Tree. Harvested from the Carson Ranger District, the red fir was nicknamed “Silver Belle” to honor the heritage and landscape of the Silver State.
The tree is traveling the country as part of a nearly 3,000-mile “Whistle-stop Tour,” bringing holiday cheer to communities along the route. Kenworth is transporting the tree using a specially wrapped T680 truck, featuring artwork inspired by Nevada’s sunset views and forest landscapes. The state-of-the-art truck includes advanced driver assistance systems, a PACCAR MX-13 engine, and comfortable amenities for the long journey.
Knight-Swift Transportation was selected as this year’s hauler, with longtime driver Michael Porter behind the wheel. Southwest Airlines is assisting by transporting thousands of handmade ornaments crafted by Nevada residents.
Chillicothe was one of many public stops on the national tour, which began November 1 at the Nevada Day Parade in Carson City. The tour continues through cities across Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland before the tree’s arrival in Washington, D.C., on November 20.
For the second year, the tree’s location can be tracked in real time thanks to Kenworth’s TruckTech+ connected technology. Residents can follow Silver Belle’s journey through an interactive map on the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.
The tree will be lit during a ceremony in early December, hosted by the Architect of the Capitol alongside the Speaker of the House.
For more information, including tour details and tracking updates, visit the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree website.
