Monday morning, a 40 foot-tall blue spruce made its way up Dodge street to the Durham Museum downtown.
It's part of Christmas at Union Station, where Union Pacific and the history museum partner to bring a tree from the community into the historic former train station, and decorate it for all to see.
This year's tree came from the home of Dan and Carmelita Graeve. Dan, one of 12 siblings, grew up in the home and said his parents planted it after the tornado of 1975.
"It's mixed emotions," he said.
This annual tradition dates back to the 1930s, when Union Pacific employees would cut Omaha's Christmas tree from along the railroad right-of-way in the Pacific Northwest and transport the tree to Union Station. This holiday custom returned when Union Station became a museum in the 1970s.
This year's tree is wider than years past, says Larry Scott, job foreman with Union Pacific.
Christmas at Union Station, set for 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, has been designated an official event of the celebration of Nebraska's 150th year of statehood. The tree will feature Goldenrod flowers and a custom "150" star atop the tree.
