Washington National Cathedral
A Gothic cathedral built by hand over eighty-three years, with a gargoyle of Darth Vader high on the north tower.
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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 and no steel frame, which is why it is often called the last true Gothic cathedral raised anywhere. It is the sixth largest cathedral in the world by some measures. 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.
What you actually see
- Load-bearing Gothic - no steel, 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.
Honest expectations
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.
What to pack for Washington National Cathedral
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
