Something truly out of this world has landed at the library. On June 5, the Salt Lake County Library’s Holladay branch was bestowed a special gift from NASA, in the form of a “Moon Tree” seedling.

The seedling’s roots date back to November 2022, when NASA launched their Artemis 1 mission. Artemis 1 is the first in a series of complex missions that’s ultimate goal is to enable human exploration of the moon, and subsequently, aid in future missions to Mars.

The Artemis 1 mission was made possible by the Orion Spacecraft, a deep space vehicle that launched atop NASA’s state-of-the-art Space Launch System (SLS). Artemis 1 was categorized as an uncrewed lunar flight test, launching amid the early hours of Nov. 16, 2022, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Over the course of 25 days, 10 hours and 53 minutes, the flight soared through space, capturing various high-resolution photographs of the moon, in the process. It returned home Dec. 11. 

While the flight may have lacked a physical crew, something special was present onboard—seedlings. The Artemis 1 seedlings have a rich history, with ties to the Apollo 14 Moon Tree project. In 1971, astronaut Stuart Roosa, carried seedlings into lunar orbit. Those seedlings would eventually become the Apollo Moon Trees. Over five decades later, the Artemis 1 mission paid homage to the Apollo Moon Trees, by sending a series of seedlings into space. These seedlings amounted to over 2,000 including varieties like sweetgums, sycamores, Douglas-firs, loblolly pines and giant sequoias.

The project is the result of a collaboration between NASA’s office of STEM engagement and the U.S Department of Agriculture Forest Services, with the ultimate goal of encouraging STEM engagement and conservation education initiatives.

Per the project’s website, “NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) and NASA’s Artifact Module, museums, universities, federal agencies, including NASA Field Centers, and K-12 serving organizations were invited to apply for ownership of a Moon Tree seedling. Recipient selection is underway for organizations according to a distribution schedule aligned to four planting cycles: Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Fall 2025.”

The Holladay Library is the latest in stewards, who received seedlings for the spring 2025 planting season. Sara Neal, the marketing and communications manager for the County Library, explained how the library came to find itself in possession of the seedling.

“The Holladay branch was chosen based on their ability to care for the tree and to connect the community with STEM and tree-focused educational opportunities,” Neal said.

The Holladay branch is the latest in a series of recipients, of which, there are hundreds across the United States. In fact, another Utah location was also gifted seeds ahead of the spring 2025 planting season. Sandy’s Sprucewood Elementary School received a Douglas Fir seedling, two years after sending in their application. 

“I was blown away when I got the first email saying that we had tentatively been chosen,” Sprucewood’s librarian Sara Lee said. “Then, when we got back (from spring break), there was an email that said, ‘Congratulations, moon tree steward, show us your celebrations.’ We got our welcome packets and then the tree came the next day.”

A month later, the Holladay Library was gifted their seeds, at a special ceremony which saw appearances from Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Holladay Mayor Rob Dahle and Salt Lake County Library Director Joey McNamee. 

“The seed for our Artemis Moon Tree was collected in Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico before taking a 270,000-mile, 26-day flight aboard the Orion spacecraft, beyond the moon and back. The seed was germinated and raised in a Forest Service nursery in Boise, Idaho, before being planted at the Holladay branch,” Neal explained.

Given that the Artemis 1 Moon Tree project is championed by NASA’S Stem division, it makes sense that they’ve gravitated toward institutions who have thriving STEM programs. The Holladay branch was chosen due to its ability to adequately care for the seedlings and connect the community with STEM opportunities, related directly to trees. Moreover, the Salt Lake County Library is one of the highest circulating library systems in North America, with nearly 13 million items checked out in 2024 and more than 2.5 million visitors.

Two years ago, the Holladay branch petitioned for a seedling after sending in an application. “We thought…why not a county library? We knew that the library would be a perfect fit for this. Part of our mission is to inspire imagination and satisfy curiosity. And a tree, that started its life in space certainly fits that bill,” said McNamee as she addressed the crowd at the June 5 ceremony. 

The seedling was officially revealed at the ceremony and is now available for viewing at the Holladay Library. Natalie Pinkney, a Salt Lake County councilmember, says it’s yet another reason residents should visit the library.

“There are so many positive ways that you can enjoy the County Library, so I really recommend that if you haven’t stopped by to do so today. And I’m just excited to be here to celebrate the newest addition to this Holladay branch.” λ