Tidal Basin Beach Officially Opens Even before the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/430">Tidal Basin</a> was constructed, planners proposed to use it as a <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/357">recreational bathing beach</a>. On August 24, 1918, the Tidal Basin bathing beach <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/170">officially opened with a water carnival</a>. Diving competitions, swimming competitions, and canoe tilting contests were all held for men and women. The beach remained open until the mid-1920s, when <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/195">it closed due to pollution</a>. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/npco/item/npc2008008201/">View original.</a> 8/24/1918 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1890-1919">1890-1919</a>