D.C.’s Stumpy is the new Chicago rat hole and we’re all coming together to mourn

Ahead of the National Park Service’s removal of Stumpy — an internet famous cherry tree known for its short stature and odd shape — visitors are paying their respects, snapping final selfies and leaving offerings.

It’s a tribute similar to the phenomenon we saw with Chicago’s rat hole, or Philly’s Chicken Man: a rallying effort to come together, feel something, and celebrate the absurd.

Earlier this month, the park service said climate change and rising tides prompted the need to construct seawalls guarding areas of the Potomac River. In turn, 158 Japanese cherry trees surrounding the Tidal Basin will be removed later this year. And that includes Stumpy, the Short King, who has been hanging around for the last 25 years and has T-shirts and a calendar paying tribute. Its first taste of virality occurred in 2020, when a subreddit thread took off, calling the tree “as dead as my love life.”

» READ MORE: Your Philadelphia cherry blossom guide

But year after year, even while looking rough, Stumpy preserved and bloomed. This will be the little tree that could’s last year and people are in their feelings about it.

As cherry blossom season unfolds, visitors have brought tributes to Stumpy, including bouquets of flowers and a bottle of Maker’s Mark. It’s not unlike the offerings visitors dropped inside the now-infamous Chicago rat hole (a viral rodent-shaped hole on Roscoe Street), including cash, miniature figurines, cheese, and shots of Malört.

Stumpy even has its own mascot, a wild interpretation of the tree with a face, that’s being used to celebrate the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-mile and 5k race next month and allow the tree to live on — in a manner of speaking.

» READ MORE: The average spring has warmed up 2.5 degrees in Philly. That’s not good for cherry blossoms.

“We understand the critical need for the National Park Service’s construction work on the seawall as a long-term investment in keeping the trees vibrant into the future,” Cherry Blossom events director Phil Stewart said in a statement. “This news makes 2024 the perfect year for us to celebrate Stumpy, as the tree will be featured on our participant shirts and finisher medals, and even make his debut as our new mascot.”

Stewart added, “In true Stumpy fashion, his resiliency will be showcased once again as he will live on as the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile mascot.”

It’s just the latest iteration of a grassroots effort to come together and support something — really, anything.

In Philly, we’ve seen examples ranging from South Philly’s Alexander Tominsky — who went viral for consuming 40 rotisserie chickens in as many consecutive days — to the now-removed animatronic Ben Franklin head that loomed over the halls of the Philadelphia (then Franklin) Mills Mall.

Other examples of Philly weirdness that locals have fixated on (and trust, there are many) include a viral letter that inspired a furnace party in Brewerytown, a regularly maintained Shrek Box with ogre-themed offerings, and the still-abandoned “Disney hole,” the site of the canceled DisneyQuest location.

As for Stumpy, some have wondered if the rallying could save the iconic tree.

The answer is, sort of. NPS confirmed the little guy wouldn’t survive replanting, and removal is necessary for the seawalls. But, the agency also shared that the National Arboretum will propagate Stumpy clippings. It’s unclear where the Stumpy babies will go when they’re old enough to go out on their own.

Until then, we salute you Stumpy and all the surreal local lore that came before you. Thanks for bringing us together.