The Tidal Basin serves several purposes on the National Mall. Primarily, it is a reservoir for the Potomac River and Washington Channel. In the past, it has also served as a recreational area for swimming, ice skating, or boating. Built by Alexander and Repass, the Tidal Basin is lined with Japanese Cherry Trees, making it the center of the Cherry Blossom Festival, and it borders several monuments, including the Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., FDR, and George Mason memorials. All of these factors make the Basin one of the central natural and recreational features of the National Mall.
Alexander and Repass
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. View original.