The Washington Companies started the Christmas season early this year when asked to design and build a copper star to adorn the top of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree at the White House in Washington, D.C. Keeping with Butte’s rich mining history, Montana Resources (a Washington Company), along with the Missoula-based Companies’ Design Team, created a 5-foot tall, 4-foot wide copper star with eight points, featuring Montana’s state flower, the bitterroot. This year, the 79-foot, 15,000 pound tree was harvested from Montana’s Kootenai National Forest, and along with the star, will travel over 3,000 miles to arrive on the West Lawn outside the White House. As a major sponsor of the 2017 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, the Washington Companies provided financial assistance to transport and display the tree on its journey across the country. The nationally televised lighting of the “People’s Tree” will take place on December 6th at 5 p.m. EST.