News

Actions

Statehouse Christmas tree deemed too puny, officials demand it to be replaced

Posted

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Christmas tree selected for the Rhode Island Statehouse rotunda has been removed after staff decided it was too puny.

The 14-foot-tall Fraser fir was donated by a tree farm. Workers put it up Tuesday but then realized it was too small and didn't fill the rotunda.

The governor's office says the little tree was moved outside to the statehouse steps and will be decorated and displayed there.

The office has gotten a 20-foot-tall Balsam to replace it.

There have been a few mishaps with Rhode Island's Statehouse tree in recent years. In 2005, the tree shed all its needles after it was doused in fire retardant.

Former Gov. Lincoln Chafee refused to call it a Christmas tree, calling it a holiday tree instead. That led to angry protests.
 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

05/08/2025

Clear

-° / 63°

0%

Friday

05/09/2025

Clear

99° / 66°

0%

Saturday

05/10/2025

Partly Cloudy

102° / 66°

0%

Sunday

05/11/2025

Partly Cloudy

92° / 57°

0%

Monday

05/12/2025

Mostly Cloudy

78° / 53°

23%

Tuesday

05/13/2025

Clear

71° / 53°

5%

Wednesday

05/14/2025

Mostly Clear

80° / 57°

1%

Thursday

05/15/2025

Mostly Clear

86° / 61°

1%