Stumpy Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Bobble Tree Unveiled

MILWAUKEE – This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled the first Stumpy the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Bobble Tree. The bobble features the iconic cherry tree that was affectionately named “Stumpy” in Washington, D.C, and became a social media star. Once situated near the Jefferson Memorial on the southern bank of the Tidal Basin, “Stumpy” was sadly removed, along with 158 other cherry trees, on May 24th, 2024, as part of a project to repair the basin’s sea wall. The Stumpy bobble is being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Yoshino cherry tree bobble is positioned on a brown, circular base bearing the name “Stumpy” in pink. With its crooked, hollowed-out trunk and visible roots, the tree is in full bloom with its four flowering branches of pink blossoms. The bobbles, which will be individually numbered to 2,025, are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. Expected to ship in November, the bobbles cost $30 each, plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

The National Park Service estimated that “Stumpy” was planted in 1999. However, because the trunk was hollowed and had no tree rings, it was difficult to know exactly how old the tree was. It was descended from the 3,020 trees gifted to the United States by Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki in 1912 as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the U.S.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, “Stumpy” became a social media star. A Reddit user spotted the sad-looking tree along the Tidal Basin between the Ohio Drive Bridge and the Jefferson Memorial. The user posted a photo of the tree to the r/washingtondc subreddit alongside a joke about the tree being “as dead as my love life.” Social media posts and accompanying traditional media increased the tree’s notoriety. Posts often focused on the ability of the tree to bloom despite its condition and harsh environment. “Stumpy” became a symbol of resilience and hope. After the tree’s rise to fame, picture-taking admirers left flowers, art, and other gifts at the base of the tree.

National Park Service workers described “Stumpy” as a folk hero, being the most asked-about tree along the Tidal Basin. In early 2024, it was announced by the NPS that “Stumpy” would be one of more than 150 cherry trees removed as part of a $113 million project to repair the Tidal Basin’s sea wall. While “Stumpy” was too brittle and hollowed out to be successfully transplanted to a different location, the NPS and National Arboretum took clippings to propagate them into new cherry trees that are genetically the same as “Stumpy.” Media outlets referred to them as “baby Stumpies” and “Stumpy 2.0.” In August 2024, the National Arboretum announced that the clippings had produced four viable clones.

“We’re excited to unveil the first bobble featuring D.C.’s favorite cherry tree,’” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “Cherry blossom season wasn’t the same without the beloved ‘Stumpy’ this year, but the much-talked-about tree’s memory lives on. This bobble is a must-have for those who fondly remember Stumpy the cherry tree.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.