California's gift to the people of the United States is a 6-story tall fir from the Stanislaus National Forest shown in photo. The tree will be cut on Saturday, November 5, 2011, and will tour the state of California for approximately 8 days. After the California tour, the Capitol Christmas Tree travels across the country on its way to Washington, D.C.

Highlights of the National Christmas Tree:

• The tree will first go on display this weekend at Sonora County Fairgrounds after Wells Fargo horse drawn stagecoaches escort the freshly cut U.S. Capitol Tree 2011 in a parade. Celebrating Gifts from Under Our Tree event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Motherlode Fairgrounds in Sonora, where guests can be the first to view the tree.
• On November 11, 2011 the tree rides in the largest Veteran's Day Parade on the West Coast in Fresno.
• The national tree requires a special cradle for transport so its branches aren't damaged, and it receives 60 gallons of water per day during its 4,500 mile journey to Washington, D.C.
• The tree will spend 8 days in California, then head across the nation for an additional 12 days of road travel.
• A song written for the Capitol Tree event called Peace, Peace, Peace is written and produced by California recording artists.
• Ornaments for the tree are made by school kids and adults from California.