Idaho Capitol Tree

Boise, Idaho

A Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) was planted on the grounds of the Idaho State Capitol in Boise on May 7, 1976, by Lt. Governor John Evans and Edward Maw, supervisor of the Boise National Forest. The tree reportedly died 6 years later.

Lt. Governor Evans later became governor of Idaho (in January 1977), and had a Moon Tree loblolly pine planted at the school his son was attending, Lowell Elementary School.

Six Douglas firs were sent to Idaho, four on 12 April 1976, and two more on 13 May 1976 by special request of Forest Supervisor Edward Maw for the governor of Idaho. Another of the Douglas firs was planted at Idaho State University. The locations of the other four Idaho Douglas firs are unknown.

The seeds for the Douglas firs that were taken on Apollo 14 were collected in Benton County, Oregon, and El Dorado County, California and sent to the U.S. Forest Service Institute of Forest Genetics (IFG) western station in Placerville, California. Unfortunately the seeds were mixed after the flight, so it is impossible to tell for any of the Douglas firs which lot they came from. More detail on the history of the Douglas fir Moon Trees is available.

Clipping above from the Twin Falls, Idaho, Times-News.
Information courtesy Mary Enama.

Lowell School, Boise, Loblolly Pine Moon Tree

Idaho State University Douglas Fir Moon Tree

University of Idaho Sycamore Moon Tree

History of the Douglas Fir Moon Trees

Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 24 July 2023, DRW