On Thursday, Nov. 21, from noon until 2 p.m., the Capitol Christmas Tree will stop in Knoxville en route from Washington State to the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building.

The tree will be located in the eastbound lanes of Neyland Drive, near Calhoun's on the River.

The 88-foot-tall Engelmann Spruce was harvested in Colville National Forest in northeast Washington State on Nov. 1st. The Knoxville visit is being sponsored by Pilot Flying J and the City of Knoxville. Free hot chocolate will be provided courtesy of B&W Y-12, LLC.

The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, or "The People's Tree," began in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-Mass.) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. This tree lived three years before succumbing to wind and root damage.

In 1970, the capitol architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree. Since then, a different national forest has been chosen each year to provide "The People's Tree." This national forest also works with state forests to provide companion trees that are smaller Christmas trees for offices in Washington, D.C.

For more information on the Capitol Christmas Tree, see http://capitolchristmastree.com.