Mission Plaza Moon Tree

San Luis Obispo, California

The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) Moon Tree in San Luis Obispo was planted as a 55-inch tall seedling on 30 July 1976. It is located in Mission Plaza near San Luis Creek just upstream from the Broad Street Bridge, not far from the . The seedling was sent from the U.S.F.S. Institute of Forest Genetics station in Placerville, California on 2 April 1976. The original seeds were collected in Santa Cruz County near Soquel, California.

The planting took place at 11 a.m. on a gray Friday, July 30, 1976. Introductions were made by Ted Waddell, Ranger-in-charge of the San Luis Ranger Unit, followed by a short talk by him and Rangers Bruce Van Zee and Mayhew Davis. The seedling and a plaque were presented to vice-mayor Myron Graham, who planted the tree with Mayhew Davis and Smokey the Bear. The planting was followed by refreshments of cookies and Tang.

The 55 inch tall sapling had grown to 82 inches by March 1978. Tree located at 35 deg 16.792 min N, 120 deg 39.876 min W

The photos above show the tree circa 2002 (left) and from about the same spot in 2024 (middle), although another tree has grown in front of it. To the right is a picture of the tree planting on July 30, 1976.

The tree with a statue on the Mission Plaza lawn, a San Luis Obispo street map showing the Moon Tree location, and the base of the tree.

Two photos on the left show the tree in 2016, rightmost photo in 2024.

All photos Nancy Rogers and Dave Williams,
except 2nd row left tree photo circa 2002 courtesy of Doug Allen
Additional information courtesy of Ed Hall and Jeff McMahon

A tree in SLO County orbited the moon — yes, really

Moon Tree listing

History of the Moon Tree Coast Redwoods

Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 1 March 2024, DRW