West Potomac Park

Looking north from West Potomac Park across the Tidal Basin, showing cherry trees in flower

West Potomac Park adjoins the National Mall in Washington, DC. It includes the parkland that extends south of the Reflecting Pool, from the Lincoln Memorial to the grounds of the Washington Monument. This area is home to the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

The park also includes the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the surrounding land on the shore of the Tidal Basin, an artificial inlet of the Potomac River created in the 19th century. The Japanese cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin are one of the popular tourist attractions in Washington as the focal point of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, when the thousands of trees, originally a gift from Japan in 1912, come into full bloom in early spring.

West Potomac Park is administered by the National Park Service as part of the National Capitol Parks-Central (NACC).

Map of West Potomac Park

USGS satellite image of West Potomac Park, taken April 26, 2002.

Key to image: 1. Lincoln Memorial, 2. Reflecting Pool, 3. National World War II Memorial (still under construction at time of image), 4. Washington Monument (the grounds of which are not part of West Potomac Park), 5. Korean War Veterans Memorial, 6. DC World War Memorial , 7. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, 8. Jefferson Memorial.

External link

• National Cherry Blossom Festival official site