International Space Hall of Fame Moon Tree
Alamogordo, New Mexico
![[Moon Tree]](alamogordo_daily_news_19761006_sm.jpg)
![[Moon Tree]](alamogordo_daily_news_19760926_sm.jpg)
A sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) was planted as part of the dedication of the
International Space Hall of Fame on 5 October 1976. Unfortunately the tree has since died,
supposedly due to a drought.
The planting ceremony featured Astronaut Dr. Robert Ridley Parker and New Mexico Governor
Jerry Apodaca. The initial planting was only ceremonial, the tree was to be planted
permanently at the site after landscaping was complete. Phil Lucero, New Mexico
Commissioner of Public Lands, gave a short history of the Moon Tree, and Parker read a
proclamation from President Ford. Alamogordo Mayor Mike Glover was presented with a
commemorative plaque.
New Mexico apparently received five Moon Trees in 1976, two
Douglas firs
and three sycamores. A 28-inch Douglas fir seedling was planted April 7 in the Civic Plaza in Albuquerque.
The other Douglas fir, of about the same size, was planted on the state capitol grounds on 22 July. A sycamore was planted
in Smokey Bear State Park on May 15, 1976. Another sycamore was planted at the International Space Hall of
Fame in Alamogordo on October 5. The location of the other sycamore is in Silver City, New Mexico,
planted August 15 in Gough Park.
The sycamores in Alamogordo and Smokey Bear State Park are known to have died, as has
the Douglas fir in Albuquerque. The status of the other two trees in not definitively known.
For more information, see the individual tree pages and
Moon Trees in New Mexico
from the New Mexico State Records Center and Archive.
Clippings above credit
Alamogordo Daily News
(6 October 1976 and 26 September 1976)
Are New Mexico's moon trees still alive? - KOAT 7 News, 19 July 2019
New Mexico's 'moon trees' planted after Apollo 14 are lost - AP News, 23 July 2019
Moon Trees in New Mexico - New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
Other New Mexico Moon Trees
Albuquerque - Civic Center
Capitan - Smokey Bear Park
Santa Fe - Capitol Building
Silver City - Gough Park
International Space Hall of Fame
Moon Tree Home Page
Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDCA, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258
NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 07 February 2022, DRW
![[Moon Tree]](alamogordo_daily_news_19761006.jpg)
![[Moon Tree]](alamogordo_daily_news_19760926.jpg)
A sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) was planted as part of the dedication of the
International Space Hall of Fame on 5 October 1976. Unfortunately the tree has since died,
supposedly due to a drought.
The planting ceremony featured Astronaut Dr. Robert Ridley Parker and New Mexico Governor
Jerry Apodaca. The initial planting was only ceremonial, the tree was to be planted
permanently at the site after landscaping was complete. Phil Lucero, New Mexico
Commissioner of Public Lands, gave a short history of the Moon Tree, and Parker read a
proclamation from President Ford. Alamogordo Mayor Mike Glover was presented with a
commemorative plaque.
New Mexico apparently received five Moon Trees in 1976, two
Douglas firs
and three sycamores. A 28-inch Douglas fir seedling was planted April 7 in the Civic Plaza in Albuquerque.
The other Douglas fir, of about the same size, was planted on the state capitol grounds on 22 July. A sycamore was planted
in Smokey Bear State Park on May 15, 1976. Another sycamore was planted at the International Space Hall of
Fame in Alamogordo on October 5. The location of the other sycamore is in Silver City, New Mexico,
planted August 15 in Gough Park.
The sycamores in Alamogordo and Smokey Bear State Park are known to have died, as has
the Douglas fir in Albuquerque. The status of the other two trees in not definitively known.
For more information, see the individual tree pages and
Moon Trees in New Mexico
from the New Mexico State Records Center and Archive.