Washington Park in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Origins of the Albany Tulip Festival

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2019

1. Origins of the Albany Tulip Festival Marker

Inscription. In 1947, residents of Albany collected 300 tons of donated food, clothing, medical supplies, household goods and building materials to help rebuild Nijmegen, The Netherlands, which had been devastated by bombing and fighting during World War II.

In gratitude, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands sent a shipment of tulips to Albany, and those tulips were planted right here in Washington Park. That gift sparked the first Tulip Festival in 1948, and Albany and Nijmegen have been sister cities ever since.

Images courtesy of Albany Institute of History and Art; and Regional Archive Nijmegen and FAN, Friendship Albany-Nijmegen.
Want to know more? Visit our website www.washingtonparkconservancy.org

Erected by Washington Park Conservancy.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Entertainment • Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.

Location. 42° 39.286′ N, 73° 46.222′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Washington Park. Marker can be reached from Washington Park Road, 0.1 miles east of New Scotland Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located just south of the

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Moses Memorial Fountain in Washington Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albany NY 12203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Washington Park (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Battle of Henry Johnson (about 500 feet away); Boats and Music (approx. 0.2 miles away); Parading and Promenading (approx. 0.2 miles away); Albany Soldiers and Sailors Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Townsend Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Spanish-American War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); 10th Ward War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . . Washington Park History. The Park is the site of many community gatherings and festive events, such as the celebrated Tulip Festival, held in the Park each May. The annual event boasts over 150 different kinds of tulips, fine arts exhibits, live music & entertainment, and much more in celebration of Albany's Dutch heritage! Over 100,000 tulips in bloom! (Submitted on January 8, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Nijmegen World War II damage image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Albany Institute of History and Art

2. Marker detail: Nijmegen World War II damage

Marker detail: "Help Nijmegen" Ad image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Albany Institute of History and Art

3. Marker detail: "Help Nijmegen" Ad

Albany Tulip Festival Marker • <i>view looking southwest<br>(Washington Park Rd. in background)</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 19, 2019

4. Albany Tulip Festival Marker • view looking southwest
(Washington Park Rd. in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 8, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.