On this day

27 March in history.

5 moments from 1850 to 2015: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

The Jefferson Memorial as seen across the tidal basin during peak cherry blossom bloom

1912

Cherry trees in Washington. First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of Japan's ambassador, planted two Japanese cherry trees by the Potomac, a gift of friendship from Tokyo.

Wikipedia: National Cherry Blossom Festival

Photo: Jay Wald / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

More from 27 March

  1. La Jolla Shores CA view. Sea lions in the foreground. Pacific Ocean Dec 2011 California Beach

    1850

    San Diego becomes a city

    San Diego, the first European settlement in what is now California, was incorporated as a city.

    Wikipedia: San Diego

    Photo: Dirk Hansen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

  2. Washington Metro

    1976

    The Washington Metro opens

    The first stretch of the subway in America's capital opened. Today it carries hundreds of thousands of people a day.

    Wikipedia: Washington Metro

    Photo: Tdorante10 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  3. Lech Wałęsa w 2026

    1981

    Poland stops work, peacefully

    Millions of Polish workers took part in a four-hour warning strike organised by the Solidarity movement, the largest in the Eastern Bloc.

    Wikipedia: 1981 warning strike in PolandWikipedia: Solidarity (Polish trade union)

    Photo: Taiwan Presidential Office / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

  4. Himeji castle in may 2015 after the five year renovation of the roof and walls

    2015

    Himeji Castle shines again

    The great white castle in Japan reopened after five years of careful restoration.

    Wikipedia: Himeji Castle

    Photo: Nikos Kitsakis / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.