Tidal Basin Beach Closes The public bathing beach at the Tidal Basin closed in 1925 <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/211">after less than a decade in operation</a>. This swimming area was segregated, <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/164">open only to whites</a>. Congress controlled the Washington DC budget and received increasing pressure from the African American community to create a beach for African Americans on the Tidal Basin, equivalent to the white beach. <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/174">Although Congress approved funding for a second beach, debate within Congress halted progress on its creation</a>. As the conflict intensified, <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/185">funding for both beaches was canceled</a> and Congress ordered the demolition of the white beach. 1925 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1920-1949">1920-1949</a>