Top of page

In Full Bloom: Celebrating 100 Years of Cherry Blossoms in D.C.

Share this post:

One hundred years ago, the city of Tokyo sent Washington, D.C. a gift of friendship that continues to bloom today. Quite literally, in fact!

Three thousand flowering cherry trees arrived in D.C. in 1912, and started what has become an annual spring tradition for residents of the D.C. area and thousands of tourists: going to see the cherry blossoms. During their peak bloom time, the trees circling the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial and leading toward the Washington Monument are transformed. The clouds of pink and white blossoms hover above and surround all who come to see them, enchanting young and old.

Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. Photo by Carol Highsmith, April 2007. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.04037
Hanami-zuki (Cherry blossom viewing month). Color woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga, between 1785 and 1789. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/jpd.00154

To mark the centennial of this gift from the Japanese people, the Library of Congress is hosting an exhibition: Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship, with works from both the Prints & Photographs Division and the Asian Division on display from today, March 20, until September 15, 2012.  Talks and tours will also be offered in conjunction with the exhibit. The events mark not just one hundred years of springtime blooming in D.C., but also seek to offer an understanding of Japanese culture and life – and the place these blossoms hold in it.

A variety of items are included in the exhibit, ranging from Japanese woodblock prints to photographs and from editorial cartoons to posters.

 

Learn More:

Add a Comment

This blog is governed by the general rules of respectful civil discourse. You are fully responsible for everything that you post. The content of all comments is released into the public domain unless clearly stated otherwise. The Library of Congress does not control the content posted. Nevertheless, the Library of Congress may monitor any user-generated content as it chooses and reserves the right to remove content for any reason whatever, without consent. Gratuitous links to sites are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments. We further reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to remove a user's privilege to post content on the Library site. Read our Comment and Posting Policy.


Required fields are indicated with an * asterisk.