Tidal Basin The Tidal Basin serves several purposes on the National Mall. Primarily, it is a reservoir for the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/424">Potomac River</a> and Washington Channel. In the past, it has also served as a recreational area for <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/164">swimming</a>, ice skating, or <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/494">boating</a>. Built by <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/137">Alexander and Repass</a>, the Tidal Basin is lined with <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/24">Japanese Cherry Trees</a>, making it the center of the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/480">Cherry Blossom Festival</a>, and it borders several monuments, including the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/31">Jefferson</a>, <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/156">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>, <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/27">FDR</a>, and <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/16">George Mason</a> memorials. All of these factors make the Basin one of the central natural and recreational features of the National Mall. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Alexander+and+Repass">Alexander and Repass</a> Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/hec2008005337/">View original.</a> 1949 <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>