jefferson franklin d roosevelt and martin luther king jr. stand on its banks the tidal basin started as an engineering project but is also served as a swimming hole a prote stthe tidal basin started as an engineering project, but also served as a swimming hole. protest grounds. and scene of a political spat scandal. memorial parks communication chief, mattis onsite to talk about the history and the famous japanese cherry trees. >> we are at the edge of the basin, home to the world famous cherry trees. they blossom every spring. well known to washingtonians, and people across the world. but as you've been here before 1890 or so, we would be in the middle of the potomac river. this area has evolved over the years, there's been an element of recreation, but with the passing of time recreation has become much more important than it was initially. as early as 1890, there was an established swimming area, around what we call today the tidal basin. with the planting of the cherry trees in 1912, that really created interest and tourism and visitatio

jefferson franklin d roosevelt and martin luther king jr. stand on its banks the tidal basin started as an engineering project but is also served as a swimming hole a protest ground and the scene of a political scandal. mike litterst national mall and memorial parks communications chief met us on site to talk about the area's history and famous japanese cherry trees. we are at the end of the tidal basin in washington dc home to the world famous cherry trees which blossom every spring well known to washingtonians people across the country and in fact people across the world, but had you been here before about 1890 or so, we would be in the middle of the potomac river this area has evolved over the years. there's always been an element of recreation around the tidal basin but with the passing of time recreation has become much more important than it initially was now as early as 1890 there was an established swimming area around what we know today is the tidal basin with the planting of the cherry trees originally in 1912 that really created i

jefferson franklin d roosevelt and martin luther king jr. stand on its banks the tidal basin started as an engineering project but is also served as a swimming hole a protest ground and the scene of a political scandal. mike litterst national mall and mo