National Photo Company via Library of Congress
Photographers shooting cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 1922.
Gary Cameron / Reuters
Photographer Jacques Gude (R) lines up a cherry blossom branch in Washington, on March 18. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the gift from Japan to the United States that started with a planting ceremony between then U.S. First lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador.
Gary Cameron / Reuters
This year marks 100 years since the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to Washington, D.C.
Some things never change. One hundred years later, the cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. continue to attract visitors and their cameras to the colorful springtime festival.
While there have been major advances in technology over the past century, photographers' desire to capture the fleeting flowers never fades. There is something very endearing about the ability of these delicate blossoms to draw a million visitors and their cameras each spring.
The Associated Press explains the history of the trees:
It was 100 years ago this month when first lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted two Yoshino cherry trees on the bank of Washington's Tidal Basin. They were the first of 3,000 planted as part of a gift from the city of Tokyo as a symbol of friendship. The original pair still stands, along with about 100 of the original trees transported from Japan.
It's a tradition that almost didn't happen. In 1910, a first gift of 2,000 trees was shipped from Japan to Washington. But agriculture officials discovered the trees were infested with insects and diseased, and they were burned. Diplomats wrote letters of regret to officials in Tokyo. Two years later, they tried again with a shipment of 3,000 trees that made it to Washington in good condition. Read the full story.
The peak bloom dates - when about 70% of the trees are blooming - was predicted to fall between March 20-23. The early spring coaxed the flowers to come out earlier than usual, though the trees will continue to bloom through April.
- Washington, D.C., celebrates 100 years of friendship, cherry blossoms
- Centennial Cherry Blossom Festival offers myriad of activity
- Slideshow: Spring is in the air!
Harris & Ewing / Library of Congress
The Cherry Blossom Festival in 1937.
Library of Congress
A hand-colored print of the Tidal Basin, with cherry blossoms, and the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C in 1920.
Martha McMillan Roberts / Library of Congress
Camera bugs snapping the cherry blossoms across the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival, in Washington, D.C in 1941.
With temperatures rising far above normal for this time of year, the famous Washington, D.C., cherry blossoms have already started to bloom. NBC's Brian Williams reports.