WASHINGTON — Wisconsin’s state tree now has a spot on the U.S. Capitol grounds.

Congressional delegates from the Badger State on Wednesday planted a sugar maple tree to mark Wisconsin’s 175th anniversary on May 29, 2023, of becoming a state. It’s the first tree dedicated to the state on the Capitol grounds.

Congressman Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, led the effort with support from the entire Wisconsin delegation to get the tree planted on the grounds. He wrote a letter to the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. The request was later approved by the House and Senate.

Steil joked this is the “most approved tree” on Capitol grounds, since it took a year to get approval. At the event, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany thanked Steil for the “tree-mendous” effort in getting the tree planted.

Two other Wisconsin Republicans, Derrick Van Orden of Prairie du Chien and Glenn Grothman of Glenbeulah, joined Steil in celebrating the tree’s planting on Wednesday and its prominent location on Capitol grounds.

(Spectrum News 1/Charlotte Scott)

“We chose the spot knowing that as you look at the Wisconsin state tree, you’ll have a beautiful view of the Capitol. If you stand on the other side, you have a beautiful view of the Washington Monument, all the way down to the Lincoln Memorial,” Steil said after the event.

Steil, who chairs the House Administration Committee, told Spectrum News he wanted to make sure Wisconsin had its mark on the Capitol grounds. 

“Like all things in Washington, it takes a long time; needs a lot of sign-off,” Steil said with a smile. “But we ultimately got it done, and I think it's a great recognition for our state.”

(Spectrum News 1/Charlotte Scott)

James Kaufmann, the director of Capitol Grounds and Arboretum, introduced the lawmakers. He said his job is to care and maintain the historic surroundings. 

“The U.S. Capitol grounds were designed by the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead in 1874,” Kaufmann said. “Now, more than 140 years later, we continue to follow his plan for creating an urban oasis here in our nation's capital. We use nature, highlighting the beauty of the U.S. Capitol building.”

He said the sugar maple is "beloved" for its longevity, vibrant fall colors and sugary sap.

“As the sugar maple can grow more than 70 feet and live for hundreds of years, it is a standout addition to our collection and a wonderful way to honor the people of Wisconsin," Kaufmann said. "We plant this sugar maple today knowing that visitors from across the nation and the world will visit these grounds and witness the tree’s growth for years to come.”