#ThisDayInHistory Japanese cherry trees planted along the Potomac
On this day in 1912, a breathtaking ceremony unfolded in Washington, D.C., as Helen Taft, wife of President William Taft, and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, gracefully planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the northern bank of the Potomac River, close to the Jefferson Memorial.
This event celebrated an exquisite gift from the Japanese government to the U.S. government, comprising 3,020 cherry trees that would soon dazzle the nation's capital.
The initial spark for this endeavor can be traced back to socialite Eliza Scidmore, who proposed planting Japanese cherry trees along the Potomac.
Having experienced the mesmerizing beauty of cherry blossoms during her time in Japan, Helen Taft eagerly embraced the idea, leading the Japanese consul in New York to suggest the gift of cherry trees from Tokyo.
The remarkable journey of these trees faced adversity, with the first batch of 2,000 trees falling victim to disease.
However, the unwavering determination of a private Japanese citizen who donated funds for a new batch paved the way for the arrival of 3,020 healthy trees in Washington in March 1912.
The blossoming cherry trees immediately captivated the visitors to Washington's Mall area. In 1934, the city commissioners initiated a three-day celebration of the late March blossoming of the trees, which eventually transformed into the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
In a heartwarming gesture of friendship, after World War II, Washington's cherry tree cuttings were sent to Japan to revive the Tokyo collection, ravaged by American bombing attacks during the war.
#ThisDayInHistory
March 27, 1912