Home
Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC
The
National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual commemoration
of the gift in 1912 of 3,000 cherry trees by Mayor Yukio
Ozaki of Tokyo to Washington as a memorial of national
friendship between the United States and Japan and a
celebration of the continued close relationship between the
people of the two countries.
History of the Cherry Tree in Washington DC
March 27, 1912
In a simple ceremony, First Lady Helen Herron Taft, wife of
president William Howard Taft, and Viscountess Chinida, wife
of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two cherry
trees on the north bank of the tidal basin in West Potomac
Park. In April, 1927 school children reenacted the initial
planning in Potomac Park and eight years later, in 1935, the
first "Festival" was sponsored by civic groups in the
nation's capitol.
1913 through 1920
Workmen continued the planting of Yoshino trees around the
Tidal Basin. The cherry trees of the other 11 varieties and
the remaining Yoshino trees were planted in East Potomac
Park.
Spring 1927
The original planting of Japanese cherry trees was
commemorated by a re-enactment of the event by Washington
school children.
Spring 1934
The District of Columbia Commissioners sponsored a three-day
celebration. The next year the first Cherry Blossom Festival
was jointly sponsored by many civic groups. It became an
annual event. In 1949, Cherry Blossom Princesses were
selected from every state and territory to participate in the
festival.
1952
Cuttings from the cherry trees in the United States were sent
to Japan to restore Japan's noted collection of trees on the
banks of the Arakawa River in the Adachi Ward which had
deteriorated during the war years. Trees in the Adachi Ward
were the parent stock for the trees given to the U.S.
1949
The first Cherry Blossom Queen was crowned and the selection
process has evolved over the years.
March 30, 1954
Sadao Iguchi, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States
presented a 20-ton, 300-year-old Japanese Stone Lantern to
the city of Washington.
1957
The Mikimoto Pearl Crown was donated for use at the Cherry
Blossom Festival.
1958
The Japanese Pagoda, hewn out of rough stone, was placed on
west bank of the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial and
dedicated April 18, 1958. It was presented as a gift to the
City of Washington, D.C., by the Mayor of Yokohama.
1965
A gift of another 3,800 new cherry trees was received by
another First Lady interested in the beautification of
Washington, Lady Bird Johnson.
1981
Japanese horticulturists came to the united states to take
cuttings from the Yoshino cherry trees to replace trees
destroyed in Japan when the course of a river was changed. By
this circle of giving, the cherry trees have fulfilled their
roles as a symbol and agent of friendship.
1982
Approximately 800 cuttings from the original trees at the
Tidal Basin were sent to Japan to help them retain the
genetic characteristics of their trees.
1986 to 1988
A total of 676 new cherry trees were planted at a cost of
$101,558 in private funds donated to the Blossoms In Our
Future campaign. The National Park Service sponsored the
campaign to help restore the number of trees to what they
were at the time of the original gift from Japan.
1994
The Festival was expanded to two weeks to accommodate the
many activities.
Today
The National Cherry Blossom Festival(R) is coordinated by the
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., an umbrella
organization consisting of a coalition of business, civic,
and governmental organizations. More than 600,000 visitors
come to Washington to see the cherry blossoms and celebrate
the beginning of spring in our nation's capital.
Since the National Park Service has been keeping records of
the blooming dates, the earliest blooming date has been March
15, 1990, and the latest date was marked on April 18, 1958.
The average blooming date--that time when the blooms are
considered to reach their peak--is April 5 for the Yoshino
and April 22 for the double flowering Kwansan trees, mostly
seen in East Potomac Park.