Cherry Blossom in DC is an annual two-week event that celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift from Japan of cherry blossom trees and the long lasting friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. In 1915, to further the desire for a strong relationship, the US gave to Japan flowering Dogwood trees. This year, the event begins March 27th and lasts through April 11th, with a parade on Saturday, April 10th beginning at 10am.

Prior to this informal, intangible peace treaty, 19th century imperialism had drawn clear lines of separation between these two great nations. Through its strict policy of isolation, Japan remained untouched by western ways until the Treaty of Amity (1854). Feelings of mistrust and resentment continued due to early U.S. Naval Leaders gunboat diplomacy upon Japan. In order to lessen tensions and restore peace, mutual Cherry and Flowering Dogwood tree offerings were given.

DC attractions include multiple festivals, museums, monuments, and more. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) organization that coordinates, produces, and supports creative and diverse activities promoting traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty and the environment, and community spirit and youth education. It marks the beginning of the peak tourist season, with an influx of visitors to Washington, drawn by the thousands of historical landmarks, museums, and other buildings. Some of the most popular DC tours include Hop-On-Off Double-Decker Bus, Discover DC Segway Safari, Mount Vernon & Arlington Cemetery, and Washington DC After Dark.

The National Museum of Crime & Punishment, located in Washington, D.C. contains excellent depictions of historically famous crime scenes along detailed information concerning past wars, forensics, organized crime, and more. Feel free to stop by our website and get a preview of some of the most notoriously famous crime scenes in U.S. History. There’s plenty of information on featured exhibits in our crime library along with a vast amount of Crime Data at our Forensic blog.