“Moon Tree” draws attention to Monterey’s Friendly Plaza

Saturday, people all over the United States will celebrate the 50th anniversary of man’s first steps on the Moon.

Believe it or not, a piece of the Moon lives in Monterey. Friendly Plaza’s majestic redwood was planted over 40 years ago from a seed that traveled to the Moon on the Apollo 14 Mission.

Astronaut and United States Forester, Stuart Roosa, orbited the moon 33 times with over 400 seeds in his backpack.

Rachel Dinbokowitz with the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau said Rossa was curious if the seeds would grow at a normal rate once they returned from space. “Luckily for us, it’s been over 40 years and the tree is here. It looks just like normal. It is a great site in a very historic town. It is another landmark that people can come and visit,” said Dinbokowitz.

Dinbokowitz said around 80 of the seeds that traveled to space were planted in cities across the United States.

Monterey’s “Moon Tree” can be found at Friendly Plaza, next to Colton Hall. A plaque, placed in front of it, shares a bit of the tree’s history with anyone who walks by.