Iowans will have a rare opportunity this week to get an up-close peek at one of the national Christmas trees without having to journey all the way to Washington D.C. Susan DeCourcy, a regional administrator with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Community members packed into a parking lot recently to get a glimpse of the “People’s Tree,” as it set off on the long trip to Washington D.C.

Two American truckers, John Schank and Fred Austin, will be transporting the annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from Wrangell, Alaska, to Washington, D.C., in a 4,000-mile journey.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree makes a stop in downtown Omaha at the Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.