RELEASE: #Bloomcam is Live for Peak Bloom During America's 250th Year

RELEASE: #Bloomcam is Live for Peak Bloom During America's 250th Year

(WASHINGTON) March 20, 2026 – The Trust for the National Mall and its partners at the National Park Service  (NPS) are thrilled to announce #BloomCam is LIVE, featuring a bird’s eye view of Washington’s grandest springtime tradition from high above the Tidal Basin. Viewers from around the world can tune in LIVE to watch the beloved cherry trees on the National Mall as they bloom in real time.  

 The National Park Service has predicted this year’s peak bloom will fall between March 29 and April 1.  

Each year, nearly a million people in countries around the world take in peak bloom on #BloomCam, the LIVE streaming camera located at the top of the Salamander Hotel DC, made possible by our partners at EarthCam.  

“The blooming of Washington D.C.’s cherry blossoms ushers in the arrival of spring around the world and symbolizes hope, renewal and friendship as we mark America’s 250th year, a monumental milestone on the National Mall.” shared Catherine Townsend, President & CEO of the Trust for the National Mall. “Our BloomCam brings the magic of peak bloom to viewers everywhere and invites them to support our Adopt a Cherry Tree campaign and help the National Park Service ensure the trees bloom for generations to come,” Townsend added. 

This year, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, nearly 50 million people are expected to visit the National Mall to celebrate this historic milestone. Special initiatives for America’s 250th include: 

• Japan’s Gift of 250 trees to celebrate America’s 250th  – To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence, Japan has announced a gift of 250 new Yoshino cherry trees to be planted around the National Mall’s Tidal Basin. 

• Legacy Leader Gift from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – The DAR has made a transformative $2 million gift as the foundational Legacy Leader of the Trust’s Cherry Tree Endowment. The gift supports the NPS’s work to care for the cherry trees and ensure they bloom for generations.  

• Our Monumental Moment campaign for America’s 250th  – The Trust and NPS are leading this initiative inspired by the 250th building legacy restoration projects, civic learning opportunities and volunteer programming to ensure the National Mall endures, welcomes and educates all who visit for 2026 and beyond. 

• The National Mall Gateway Civic Learning Platform – The Trust and NPS have launched a new digital civic learning platform that welcomes visitors on the National Mall and teachers and classrooms around the country to learn history and civics through the National Mall, far beyond its borders. 

• National Mall MALLSTARS Volunteer Initiative -- The Trust and NPS have launched the MALLSTARS volunteer initiative, inspiring Americans to commit to 250 hours of service on the National Mall to celebrate America’s 250th.  

The goal of #BloomCam is to build awareness and a wider community of support for the long-term care and upkeep of the more than 3,000 cherry trees on the National Mall. Facing the effects of their urban setting and impact from the millions who visit each year, the trees, first planted in 1912 on the Tidal Basin, need care and attention now more than ever.  

The Trust, in partnership with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, is working to raise $3.7 million through its Adopt a Cherry Tree campaign. The campaign invites the public to donate to help the National Park Service ensure the iconic trees are properly cared for and maintained for the next generation.  

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:  

Available in person at the Tidal Basin, on the phone or via Microsoft Teams and Zoom. 

• Julie Moore, VP of Communications, Trust for the National Mall, can talk about special educational and volunteer programming for America’s 250th and the Trust’s critical work to raise funds to help NPS protect, care for, manage and replace the cherry trees each year. 

• Mike Litterst, Chief of Communications and Spokesperson, National Mall and Memorial Parks, can talk about peak bloom. 

Viewers can also check out the blooms from #MonumentCam, perched high atop the Washington Monument, the highest point in downtown D.C., and check out #BudCam for a highlight reel that shows the life cycle of the flower and a close-up time lapse of the trees blooming in past years. 

ABOUT THE TRUST FOR THE NATIONAL MALL: The Trust is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan philanthropic partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring, enriching and preserving the National Mall. The Trust brings private funding, project expertise and in-kind support to help elevate the National Mall and its historic purpose, especially critical as we celebrate America’s 250th in 2026. The Trust raises funding, leads capital restoration and sustainability projects, mobilizes volunteer operations and provides innovative educational experiences to ensure the National Mall, with 36 million visits each year, endures as a vibrant civic stage for all. To learn more and to support our mission visit: www.nationalmall.org | information@nationalmall.org | @thenationalmall