![[Forest of Friendship Moon Tree - 2002]](forest_friendship_tree.jpg)
![[Plaque on the Forest of Friendship Tree - 2002]](forest_friendship_plaque.jpg)
The International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas is a memorial to the men and
women involved in aviation and space exploration. The Forest was started for the Bicentennial
by the city of Atchison and the Ninety-Nines, the international organization of women pilots,
in honor of Atchison native Amelia Earhardt.
The forest contains trees representing all 50 states and over 35 countries.
The Moon Tree, a
sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), was planted in a ceremony on 24 July 1976 (Amelia Earhart's birthday),
by Apollo 17 astronaut Ron Evans and Kansas State Forester Harold Gallaher.
It is
reported
to be the first tree planted there.
The tree is dedicated to seventeen astronauts who lost their lives
furthering space exploration.
Plaques with the astronauts' names circle the tree.
The article below is from the July 19, 1976 Atchison Daily Globe.
The pictures above were taken in 2002. Pictures at the bottom circa 2018.
![[Atchison Daily Globe - 19 July 1976]](atchison_daily_globe_19760719.jpg)
![[Atchison Daily Globe - 19 July 1976]](atchison_daily_globe_19760719_2.jpg)
![[Base of the Forest of Friendship Tree - 2002]](forest_friendship_base.jpg)
![[Base of the Forest of Friendship Tree - circa 2018]](atchison_tree_base.jpg)
The tree is located at 39 deg 31.923 min N, 95 deg 08.938 min W.
Two upper and lower left photographs courtesy of Kelly W. Sandahl
International Forest of Friendship Home Page ‘Moon tree’ at home in Atchison - Topeka Capital-Journal, 18 February 2011 Moon Tree - Kansas - Center for Land Use and Interpretation
History of the Sycamore Moon Trees
Moon Tree Home Page
Author/Curator: