For the first time, the Alaska State Legislature welcomed people to the Capitol Building in celebration of the holiday season. On December 6, 2005 from 2:00p- 6:00p there was be an open house joining in the 92-year-old tradition of the party at the Governor’s House. The lobby displays a Capitol Tree decked out in blue and gold ornaments and stars as the backdrop to specialty ornaments from all the legislative districts. Contributors range in age from nine to 89, and geographically from Ketchikan to Kotzebue and from Barrow to Bethel and to the Hmong community in Anchorage. There are beachcombed treasures from Cordova, Chilkat weavings from Haines, beaded stars of fur from Shishmarof, rosemal hearts from Petersburg, Athabascan birch baskets from Rampart, and Eskimo fur seal yo-yos from Eek. From moose antlers and fish bones to polymer clay and paper mache, from carved cottonwood to plated gold, the spirit of the holidays is evident on the Capitol Tree. Ornaments are cataloged, photographed, and linked to the Internet so those in far-flung places in our state and around the world can be a part of the new tradition. The ornaments will remain part of the Legislative collection.
This is an annual event. Please look forward to this years celebration!