Western Forestry Center Moon Tree

Portland, Oregon

A Douglas fir Moon Tree was planted at the Western Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon, on May 25, 1976. The tree was planted by Harold A. Miller, chairman of the board of the Western Forestry Center, and pupils from the local Irvington, Cleveland, and Skamania (Washington) schools. The tree was about two feet high at planting. Its history, exact location, and status are unknown.

The news clipping above is from The Oregonian, May 26, 1976. The clipping below, also from The Oregonian (15 February 1975) is about a visit Stuart Roosa made to Portland in 1975, before the Moon Tree was planted. In the article he discusses the Moon Trees and his wish that a tree be planted in Cave Junction, Oregon. One did end up being planted there, at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, where he lived and worked as a smokejumper in 1953.

The seeds for the Douglas firs were collected in Benton County, Oregon, and possibly in El Dorado County, California. Seeds from these lots were given to Stuart Roosa to take on Apollo 14. Unfortunately they were mixed together during the decontamination procedure after the flight so it is not possible to know which location this tree came from. The seeds were grown at the forest station in Placerville, California and distributed to the Oregon Department of Forestry in 1976.

Articles courtesy The Oregonian and Fred Kelso.

History of the Moon Douglas Firs
Moon Tree Home Page

NASA Official: Dave Williams, david.r.williams@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 23 August 2023, DRW