The Axe and the Cherry Tree
The landscape design of Mt. Vernon Place has changed quite a bit since its creation in 1828. Originally, the area was known as Howard's woods but when Col. John Eager Howard donated part of his property for Mt. Vernon Place, the tree were cleared out for formal gardens. Later Oak trees were planted, but were marred down because the tall bushy leaves ruined the view of the park. Then an exotic new imported tree was planted, the Japanese Cherry Tree, because it would not grow as tall. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the trees were removed because they were "un-American" and relocated to internment camps. Soon after, they were replaced with Crabapple trees that remain today.
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Marker can be reached from Washington Place, in the median.
Courtesy hmdb.org
