Where are the moon trees planted?

The Moon Trees: A Cosmic Tale Rooted in Earth

Picture this: it’s 1971, and the Apollo 14 mission is gearing up for its lunar voyage. Among the crew was Stuart Roosa, a former smokejumper with a fascinating side gig for the U.S. Forest Service. What many don’t realize is that Roosa wasn’t just carrying scientific instruments; he was also entrusted with something truly special: around 500 tree seeds! This wasn’t some random act; it was a joint project between NASA and the Forest Service, spearheaded by Chief Edward P. Cliff, designed to see how space travel affected these tiny potential trees.

These weren’t just any seeds, either. We’re talking about five different species—loblolly pine, sycamore, sweetgum, redwood, and Douglas fir—carefully selected to represent a cross-section of American forestry. They orbited the Moon a whopping 34 times! Pretty wild, right?

When they finally made it back to Earth, the Forest Service got to work germinating them. And guess what? Almost all of them sprouted! These little guys became known as “Moon Trees,” and they were destined for a pretty unique destiny. A lot of them were planted as part of the bicentennial celebrations in 1976.

Planting a Legacy: Where Did They Go?

So, where exactly did these cosmic trees end up? Well, they were distributed all over the place: state forestry organizations, parks, schools, even government buildings. Because of the tree types, not every state got one, which is a bit of a bummer. But some of the most notable locations include the White House (though sadly, that particular loblolly pine didn’t make it in the long run), Washington Square in Philadelphia, Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, and the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas—places steeped in history.

Of course, NASA wanted in on the action, too. You can find a sycamore Moon Tree at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. And out in California, several redwood Moon Trees (Sequoia sempervirens) found homes in places like Monterey near Colton Hall, at the state capitol in Sacramento, in the Tilden Nature Area in Berkeley, at Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo, at Humboldt State University in Arcata, and at a Forest Service site in Lockeford. That’s a lot of redwoods with a story to tell!

Here’s a cool fact: the only surviving Moon Tree in Louisiana stands tall in Kisatchie National Forest near Elmer. Talk about a survivor! And it wasn’t just the U.S. that got these special trees. They were gifted to other countries too, including Brazil, Switzerland, and even presented to Emperor Hirohito of Japan.

The Mystery of the Missing Moon Trees

Here’s the thing: not everyone kept meticulous records of where these trees were planted. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack! That’s where NASA scientist David Williams comes in. Back in 1996, he took on the awesome task of tracking down these lunar legacies. Using everything from old newspaper articles to public reports, Williams has managed to identify over 100 of the original Moon Trees. Sadly, it’s estimated that nearly 30 have passed on. But hey, finding over 100 is still a huge win! Williams even keeps a website with all the known locations. Talk about dedication!

The Next Generation

But the story doesn’t end there. We’ve now got second-generation Moon Trees, grown from the seeds or cuttings of the originals. How cool is that? In 2005, a second-generation sycamore Moon Tree was planted at Arlington National Cemetery to honor Stuart Roosa. And in 2011, his daughter, Rosemary, started the Moon Tree Foundation to keep the legacy alive and distribute even more second-generation trees. It’s like the Apollo mission’s gift that keeps on giving!

More Than Just Trees

These Moon Trees are more than just plants; they’re a symbol. They represent the incredible things we can achieve when we combine space exploration with a love for our planet. Sure, they might look like any other tree, but they’re forever connected to one of humanity’s greatest adventures. They’re a reminder that even the smallest seed can have a truly cosmic journey.