Where on Earth are the Moon Trees?

Abstract

This essay describes the history of ‘Moon Trees’ – trees that were grown from seeds that accompanied the NASA Apollo 14 mission to the Moon in 1971. During the mid-1970s, Moon Tree seedlings were planted in communities across the United States as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. Here, I discuss how Moon Trees became symbols of pride in the scientific and technological advancements in the United States, and the various ways in which they have impacted the communities in which they were planted. I also chart the current efforts (including my own journey) to document and to tell their stories, and the ways in which such efforts emerge from the interweaving of technology and personal and collective memories.