From the vault: Cherry Blossom Queens and trees in Washington, D.C.

Mar 29, 2016

From the vault: Cherry Blossom Queens and trees in Washington, D.C.

Christina Tkacik 0 Comment From the Vault, Retrospective, The Baltimore Sun archival, archival washington, cherry blossom queen, festival, Japan, princess, Washington DC

More than 3,000 of the trees were planted along Washington D.C.’s tidal basin in 1912, a gift from Japan. Since then Washingtonians have celebrated the annual blooming of the pink blossoms with a parade, and even a beauty pageant.

: Tidal Basin in 1947.

: Japan’s Ambassador Nobuhiko Ushiba crowns Elizabeth Kabis of Odessa, Del., the 1973 Cherry Blossom Queen during festivities Friday night in Washington.

: April 8, 1972. A TEARFUL QUEEN – Lynn T. Armstrong, who represents Massachusetts in the 1972 Cherry Blossom Festival, wipes a tear from her eye Friday night after being selected Queen of the Festival.

: Japanese Ambassador Nobuhiko Ushiba crowns Christina Ann Schüler of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Queen of National Cherry Blossom Festival. (1971)

: Christina Ann Schüler of Bellefontaine, Ohio, Queen of National Cherry Blossom Festival, waves to spectators along Constitution Avenue during today’s festival parade. (1971)

: Sharon Michele Tooley, representing Alaska, was selected as the 1970 National Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Friday night. John Mitchell, the Attorney General, spun the wheel-of-states, which stopped on her home state. (April 11, 1970).

: “Carol Burton, the Cherry Blossom Princess from Utah, is kissed by her parents last night after her selection as the Queen of the 1969 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Her father, right, is Rep. Laurence Burton, R-Utah. ” April 13, 1969.

: The caption for this photo from March 20, 1969 says “Each year a young woman from Japan lights the ancient stone lantern beside the Tidal Basin to officially open the National Cherry Blossom Festival.”

: The Allegany High School band of Cumberland, Md., parades in Washington, D.C. in a photo dated April 9, 1967.

: The caption for this photo from April 16, 1967, reads “Pamela Rudden, a junior at the University of Maryland, who reigned as queen of this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival.”

: The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. Photo dated April 14, 1947.

: Cherry blossoms in 1963.

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