Humboldt State University Moon Trees

Arcata, California

Three coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Moon Trees reside next to the theatre arts building on the campus of Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. (Now California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.) The seedlings were sent out from the Institute of Forest Genetics station in Placerville, California on 2 May 1976 for a dedication planting at the Pacific Southwest Research station in Arcata. The exact date of the dedication ceremony is not known, presumably it was done shortly after they were received in 1976. The picture above shows the group of trees including the three Moon Trees, which are believed to be the three trees at the center of the group (trees 3, 4, and 5 going from left to right). Picture was taken in September of 2013.

There are reports that there are many more Moon Tree coast redwoods planted on the campus (for example, see Humboldt NOW, 2009), but no records confirming this have been found. However, it is known that most of the root cuttings from the original seedlings are unaccounted for, so it is possible some of these were sent to Humboldt State.

Trees located at N 40 deg 52.561 min N, 124 deg 4.770 min W.

Picture courtesy T. Byron Miller
Article credit H.S.U. Lumberjack

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NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 14 August 2024, DRW