Tidal Basin

Item

Title

Tidal Basin

Description

The Tidal Basin serves several purposes on the National Mall. Primarily, it is a reservoir for the Potomac River and Washington Channel. In the past, it has also served as a recreational area for swimming, ice skating, or boating. Built by Alexander and Repass, the Tidal Basin is lined with Japanese Cherry Trees, making it the center of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and it borders several monuments, including the Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., FDR, and George Mason memorials. All of these factors make the Basin one of the central natural and recreational features of the National Mall.

Creator

Alexander and Repass

Source

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original.

Date

1949

Coverage

1920-1949

topic

design & monuments
environment
work & play

Item sets