First Lady of Potomac Park
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Park News National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The official newspaper of National Mall and Memorial Parks April 2012 · Volume 5, Issue 4 Activities 2 Cherry Blossom Festival 5 Plan Your Visit 10 First Lady of Potomac Park: Nellie Taft Cherry Blossom Ranger Jan Buerger Centennial elen “Nellie” Herron Taft’s dream of Ranger Brad Berger Hbecoming First Lady propelled her husband William Howard Taft into running for the arch 27, 2012 marks the 100th anniversary presidency. For her part, she was a lady of “firsts,” Mof the ceremonial planting of Japanese and was among the First Ladies to transform the flowering cherry trees along the Tidal Basin by role into the substantive one it is today. Her legacy First Lady Helen Taft and the Viscountess Iwa is still evident in parts of the National Mall. Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador. From her first visit to Japan in 1885, noted authority Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1861, and a graduate of on Asian culture and newspaper correspondent Cincinnati College of Music, she married William Eliza R. Scidmore advocated the planting of such Howard Taft in 1886. Nellie Taft distinguished trees in the nation’s capital. The years turned into herself as founder and president of the Cincinnati decades in her quest to beautify the city. Despite Symphony Orchestra Association. After the her lack of success, this was a formative time for Spanish-American War, President William Washington, D.C., as a series of damaging floods McKinley appointed William Taft Governor of underscored the need for dredging the Potomac the Philippine Islands, where he served from River in order to create land barriers which would 1900 to 1903. There, Mrs.Taft distinguished protect the city. During the 1890s, two new bodies herself as a public servant. The Tafts worked as a LC-USZ62-25804 of land known as East Potomac Park and West Helen Herron Taft, 1909. Library of Congress photo. team, reversing discrimination against locals and Potomac Park formed a protective barrier around establishing a policy of equality. She was a fan of historic Spanish colonial district that Nellie Taft the areas susceptible to flooding. Between the two Manila’s Luneta Park, a swampland transformed in fought to preserve. The Paseo de Luneta was a lay a Tidal Basin engineered to allow high water 1820 into the Paseo de Luneta, a plaza in the form community recreation center where concerts were on the river to flow into and then out of the basin, of a Roman circus or parade for riding and walking. open to all. reinforcing the city’s protection. This grand new Later, the Paseo de Luneta served as a fortification, expanse of land lay wide open with possibilities. around the old Walled City, or Intramuros, a When President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft continued on page 7 As the nineteenth century turned to the twentieth, major building projects transformed what was known as a backwater amongst world capitals into Welcome to National Mall the framework of the picturesque city we know today. The city, taking its cue from the World’s and Memorial Parks Columbian Exposition of 1893, began to build and plan structures reminiscent of the White City, Superintendent Bob Vogel information about interpretive NPS such as the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural programs by our park rangers and History, and the Lincoln Memorial. It was in n behalf of the National Park other activities and resources. You this atmosphere, known as the “City Beautiful” OService, welcome to National also will find in this issue articles movement, that Scidmore met Dr. David Mall and Memorial Parks! Here about our famous cherry trees. The Fairchild. Fairchild, a prominent figure at the U.S. you can visit some of America’s blossoming cherry trees symbolize Department of Agriculture, began introducing iconic landmarks and memorials the arrival of spring in Washington, Japanese flowering cherry trees to his estate in that celebrate and commemorate D.C. and provide a spectacular Chevy Chase, MD, just north of the city. In the our nation’s heritage. show of nature’s beauty. The closing of an Arbor Day ceremony in 1908, Dr. For generations, millions of National Cherry Blossom Festival Fairchild called for a large number of these trees to people have come to the National is held annually to showcase the be planted where the speedway around the Tidal Mall to experience the grandeur beautiful trees that were a gift from Basin was located, which would create a “Sea of of these special places and to the city of Tokyo to our nation’s Cherries” in this newly reclaimed land. Hearing reflect on what it means to be an Superintendent Bob Vogel capital. This year marks the 100th American. Many people come to anniversary of that gift. We’ll be Centennial continued on page 4 exercise their First Amendment rights because of offering a wide variety of special programs as part National Mall and Memorial Parks the park’s proximity to our seat of government. of the celebration. 900 Ohio Dr., S.W. Phone: 202-233-3520 For others, the National Mall is a neighborhood The staff and volunteers of the National Washington, D.C. 20024 www.nps.gov/nama park they use for recreation and exercise. No Mall are available to tell you about the park, Radio: 1670 AM matter what their reason, all who visit are part of a answer your questions and help you make the legacy that stretches back centuries. most of your time here in America’s front yard. National Mall Times Staff In this newspaper, you will find articles Enjoy your visit! Editor-In-Chief: Nathan King about the park’s many features, as well as Editors: Stacy Shannon, Michael Kelly National Mall Times 1 Ranger Programs & Activities Daily Programs Tuesday, April 17, 2012 Saturday, April 21, 2012 What: Free site tours and interpretive talks Bombardment of Fort Sumter Spring Bird Walk Ranger Program, 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM, Ranger Program, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 3:00 – 3:30 PM Join National Park Service Rangers as we try to Where: Lincoln, Korean War Veterans, Vietnam Learn how events at a fort in the middle of identify birds during this spring bird migration Veterans, World War II, Franklin Delano Charleston Harbor propelled the United States season. Binoculars are provided. Location: Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thomas into Civil War. Location: Lincoln Memorial. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. Contact: Jefferson Memorials Contact: Jeff Jones (202) 329-2238. Robert Steele (202) 438-9574. When: Daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, and 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2012 The Death of a President Bike Tour, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Lincoln’s assassination changed the course of From Mud Flats to Memorials in 200 Special Programs history, but not the way Booth intended. Hear Years about that tragic night and how Lincoln emerged Walking Tour, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, as a president for the ages. Bring your own bike, Saturday, April 14, 2012 5:00 - 7:00 PM helmet, water and snacks. Location: Lincoln The land where our memorials now stand used to Memorial. Contact: Heidi Dietze (202) 438-7033. be mud flats. The transformation over 200 years 24th Annual Potomac River is filled with more “oops” than you would think. Watershed Cleanup Location: Washington Monument Bookstore. The National Mall: A Reflection of Volunteer Service Activity, 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Contact: Mike Rose (202) 438-9667. American Society Help keep the Potomac River clean from the Walking Tour, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Lincoln Memorial to the Inlet Bridge! Gloves and Trace the development of the National Mall as it bags will be provided. The activity ends prior to John Paul Jones: Man of Action evolved to meet the needs of American Society. the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Location: Ranger Program, 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Location: Washington Monument Lodge, 15th St. Intersection of Ohio Drive SW and West Basin John Paul Jones, an audacious captain, was the first Contact: Robert Steele (202) 438-9574. Drive SW. Contact: Edward Fleming (240) 375- US Navy commander to cause a foreign warship 5904. to strike its flag. In 1912, this brave man was honored with a memorial. Location: World War II Charles Sumner and the Push for Memorial. Contact: Matt Hornberger (202) 359- Abolition The Death of a President 7080. Ranger Program, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Ranger Program, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner was a 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Thursday, April 19, 2012 leading light of the Northern radical abolitionists. Lincoln’s assassination changed the course of Learn how he contributed to the end of slavery. history, but not the way Booth intended. Hear Location: Lincoln Memorial. Contact: Jan Buerger about that tragic night and how Lincoln emerged Recalling the Shot Heard around the (202) 497-1397. as a president for the ages. Location: Lincoln World Memorial. Contact: Heidi Dietze (202) 438-7033. Living History, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM The Bataan Death March Meet rangers in 1776 attire to learn about the Ranger Program, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Monday, April 16, 2012 shot heard around the world at Lexington and After the Philippines fell to the Japanese in April Concord on April 19, 1775. Location: Washington 1942, American soldiers had to endure the largest Monument Lodge. Contact: Mike Rose (202) 438- surrender in American history. Location: World The District Emancipation Act: An 9667. War II Memorial.