Washington National Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral built by hand over eighty-three years, with a gargoyle of Darth Vader high on the north tower.
Updated 20 October 2026
The foundation stone was laid in 1907 and the last finial set in 1990 - eighty-three years, built in load-bearing stone with flying buttresses, with structural steel only in the roof trusses. It is the second-largest church building in the United States. The details are where it becomes itself: a moon rock is set in one of the space windows, and among the grotesques on the north-west tower is Darth Vader, carved after a children's design competition in the 1980s and placed high enough to need binoculars. An earthquake in 2011 damaged the pinnacles and repairs have continued since.
Highlights
- Load-bearing Gothic - stone, built 1907 to 1990.
- A moon rock in the space window - brought back by Apollo 11.
- The Darth Vader grotesque - north-west tower, binoculars needed.
- Ongoing earthquake repairs - since the 2011 damage.
When to go
Year round; check the service schedule. Two hours.
Good to know
Services and events close it to visitors without warning. Scaffolding has been present for years in places. The Vader carving is genuinely hard to see from the ground. It is not on the metro directly.
Nearby
Georgetown is south; the National Mall is a longer ride.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q668710, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Washington National Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
