Governor's mansion decked out for holiday open houses
The Minnesota Governor's Residence is all decked out for the holidays. And people can get a look at the decorations at three open houses in December.
The open houses go from 1-3 p.m. all on Tuesdays, Dec. 1, 8 and 15.
There will be live music, and visitors can view the decorations, which include the Governor's Christmas tree.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources harvested a 44-foot balsam fir to grace the front lawn of the Governor's mansion.
The DNR, with help from the Minnesota Conservation Corps, took the tree from the Nemadji State Forest, located 115 miles northeast of St. Paul along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
The hunt for the governor's tree begins in early fall when DNR foresters scout potential candidates from Minnesota's 58 state forests. DNR forestry technician Tim Brault says it's no easy task to find a perfect specimen growing in the wild. Foresters look for a tree with 30-35 feet of usable trunk, symmetrical branches and no noticeable gaps.
A crew will start setting up the tree on Monday morning.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.