Pisgah Moon Tree

Cradle of Forestry

[Athens Moon Tree Planting] [Pisgah Tree Sign] [Pisgah Tree]

This sycamore (Platinus occidentalis) was planted at the Cradle of Forestry in America in the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina on October 18, 1976. The tree planting event was led by West Germany's Minister of Forestry, Karl-Heinz Oedekoven, and ten West German forestry officials, who were touring U.S. forests at the time. The planting was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Carl Schenk, a German-born forester who taught at the Biltmore Forest School. The top left picture shows the tree around 2022, on the top right is the tree in 2019. It appears a new sign was put up sometime after 2019. There is also a plaque (below) underneath the sign honoring Lt. Col. William C. Hafer and Vera R. Hafer. The picture at lower right shows the Visitors Information Center Building and the Cradle of Forestry in 1967.

[Pisgah Plaque] [Cradle of Forestry 1967]

Top left and bottom right pictures credit USDA Forest Service
Other pictures courtesy Chiho Sullivan

Festivals, Politics, Meetings on Schedule - Asheville Times, October 16, 1976
German Visitors Pay Tribute to Pioneer Forester - Asheville Times, October 18, 1976
Cradle of Forestry
Space star honored at Earth Day celebrations - The Mountaineer, 25 April 2022
Cradle of Forestry Moon Tree Sign - Historical Marker Database

History of the Moon Tree Sycamores
Moon Tree Home Page

NASA
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: 20 May 2024, DRW