WASHINGTON DC, United States — Cherry blossoms frame the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. The pink and white flowers of the Yoshino cherry trees provide a striking contrast to the white granite of the "Stone of Hope" sculpture depicting Dr. King. This scene, captured during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, symbolizes the convergence of natural beauty with the enduring legacy of the civil rights movement.
Photograph by David Coleman. This image captures a powerful juxtaposition of natural beauty and historical significance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during Washington DC's cherry blossom season. The memorial, dedicated in 2011, is situated along the Tidal Basin's northwest corner, strategically positioned in a direct line between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. The centerpiece of the memorial is the 30-foot-tall "Stone of Hope" sculpture of Dr. King, emerging from the "Mountain of Despair," both carved from white granite by sculptor Lei Yixin. Surrounding this monumental work are the delicate pink and white blossoms of Yoshino cherry trees (Prunus x yedoensis), part of the famous collection gifted to Washington by Tokyo in 1912. These trees typically bloom in late March to early April, coinciding with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossoms, symbols of renewal and the ephemeral nature of life, provide a poignant backdrop to the permanent memorial honoring Dr. King's legacy of peace, justice, and equality. This combination of elements creates a scene that is both visually striking and deeply meaningful, embodying themes of hope, perseverance, and the cyclical nature of progress. The memorial's setting among the cherry blossoms also serves to connect it with other iconic Washington landmarks, emphasizing Dr. King's central place in American history and the nation's continuing journey toward realizing his dream.
Size: 5504px × 8256px
Location: Tidal Basin, Washington DC, District of Columbia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | CherryBlossomWatch / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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