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. It can be reached from Washington Park Road 0.1 miles east of

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New Scotland Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located just south of the 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York

and in the Capital District.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

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); 78 Willett Street (about 700 feet away); Edgar Johnson (about 700 feet away); 78A Willett Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Tropical Oasis (approx. 0.2 miles away); Boats and Music (approx. 0.2 miles away); 366 Hudson Avenue (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.

Also see . . . Washington Park Historic District (Albany, New York).

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

Wikipedia entry:
Links to National Register of Historic Placed Nomination Form (Submitted on October 2, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

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 October 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 8, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 838 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 8, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.