Idaho State University Tree

Pocatello, Idaho

A Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) was planted at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho on Tuesday, May 18, 1976, by Lt. Governor John Evans and over 100 students from Washington Elementary School. The tree was planted at 10:00 a.m. in the L.E. Gale Life Sciences Complex. The seedling was 18 inches high. The news clipping above is from the 17 May 1976 Idaho State Journal.

The status of the tree is unknown. There are a number of evergreens at the L.E. Gale Life Sciences Complex, but it is not known if any of these are the Moon Douglas fir.

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 fir Moon Trees were sent to Idaho, four on 12 April 1976, and two more by special request of Forest Supervisor Edward Maw for the governor of Idaho. Besides the Idaho State University tree, one was planted at the Idaho State Capitol. 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.

News clipping courtesy Idaho State Journal
Information courtesy Mark Thompson.

Lowell School, Boise, Loblolly Pine Moon Tree

Idaho State Capitol 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: 21 July 2023, DRW