The official US Capitol Christmas Tree made a stop at Hoover Dam, on its way to Washington DC. The tree, a 53 foot tall red fir, is from Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Sparks. The tree, called Silver Belle, will make several more stops along the 3000 mile trek from Nevada. You can follow along in real time using the GPS tracking installed in the specially designed Kenworth T680 truck. For more information about the route, click HERE.
The truck is being driven by Michael Porter. This is how the truck is equipped for the drive:
The truck pulling this year’s tree is a specially decaled Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem real axles. The Kenworth T680 features a Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents and includes the latest in driver amenities. Both the driver and passenger seats are GT703 Ultraleather seats that are fully heated and cooled. The 76-inch sleeper includes space for a microwave and TV, a factory-installed fridge, and a rotating worktable. The T680 also includes the latest in driver assistance systems, including Kenworth’s DigitalVision Mirrors, Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Stop and Auto Go, and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering.
Silver Belle will be stopping in Flagstaff today on its Whistle Stop Tour through the United States, on its way to its final destination. Here are some of those upcoming stops:
- Friday, Nov. 7: Flagstaff, Arizona
- Saturday, Nov. 8: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Sunday, Nov. 9: Amarillo, Texas
- Monday, Nov. 10: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: Lenexa, Kansas
- Wednesday, Nov. 12: St. Louis, Missouri
- Friday, Nov. 14: Paducah, Kentucky
- Saturday, Nov. 15: Lexington, Kentucky
- Thursday, Nov. 20: Joint Base Andrews, Maryland (*base access only)
In early December, there will be a special ceremony at the US Capitol when the tree lighting ceremony will take place.
