Each spring, hundreds of thousands of people flood Washington, D.C., to admire the blooming of cherry blossom trees along the Tidal Basin.
The annual National Cherry Blossom Festival sees those tourists jockeying for the best position to take a stunning, social media-worthy shot. But there’s another spot in the district where the crowds are more manageable and the cherry blossom trees are as spectacular – The Catholic University of America.
Cherry blossoms are all around the 176-acre campus, including at Pryzbyla Plaza; The Mary, Seat of Wisdom statue; and the Edward M. Crough Center for Architectural Studies. As a bonus, the iconic dome of the neighboring Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception looms in the background often, adding an extra touch of splendor.
Enjoy these photos by University photographer Patrick G. Ryan and plan your visit to Catholic University today.
