The Innovator Who Introduced Cherry Blossoms to the U.S.A.

Washington, D.C.'s famous fluffy cherry trees were gifts from Japan, brought to the United States by international food explorer David Fairchild, a man dedicated to exploring the world's best flowers, fruits, and plants.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Washington, D.C.’s most well-known and well-loved events. First held in 1935, the festival attracts more than 700,000 people when the flowers are in bloom.

Orren R. Louden
Published March 30, 2018
12 min read
This story first published in spring 2018 to mark Washington, D.C.'s world famous Cherry Blossom Festival. To support the health practice of social distancing due to the outbreak of COVID-19, spectators can safely view the 2020 blossoms from the Bloom Cam, a live feed from the National Mall.
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