State Historical Museum of Iowa: Cross Section of 267 Year Old Washington State Spruce Tree

On permanent display at the State Historical Museum of Iowa in Des Moines is this cross section of a Washington State Spruce Tree. It was 267 years old when the tree was cut in the early 1890's. Unloaded by mistake while enroute to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, also known as the Chicago World's Fair. The tree section was being transported by train when it stopped in Des Moines, Iowa. Somehow it was unloaded and never made it back on board the train before it left for Chicago. The tree section was cataloged into the museum's collection in 1934.