Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., United States

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a cathedral of the Episcopal Church located in Washington, D.C. The Neo-Gothic design was closely modeled on English Gothic style of the late 14th century. It is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world, the second-largest in the United States, and the highest as well as the fourth-tallest structure in Washington, D.C.

The Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation erected the cathedral under a charter passed by the United States Congress in 1893. Construction began in 1907, when the foundation stone was laid in the presence of President Theodore Roosevelt and a crowd of more than 20,000, and ended 83 years later when the 'final finial' was placed in the presence of President George H. W. Bush in 1990. Decorative work, such as carvings and statuary, is ongoing as of 2011. The Foundation is the legal entity of which all institutions on the Cathedral Close are a part; its corporate staff provides services for the institutions to help enable their missions, conducts work of the Foundation itself that is not done by the other entities, and serves as staff for the Board of Trustees.

Most of the building is constructed using a buff-colored Indiana limestone over a traditional masonry core. Structural, load-bearing steel is limited to the roof's trusses (traditionally built of timber); concrete is used significantly in the support structures for bells of the central tower, and the floors in the west towers.

The pulpit was carved out of stones from Canterbury Cathedral in United Kingdom. Glastonbury Abbey provided stone for the bishop's formal seat. The high altar, the Jerusalem Altar, is made from stones quarried at Solomon's Quarry near Jerusalem, reputedly where the stones for Solomon's Temple were quarried. In the floor directly in front of that altar are set ten stones from the Chapel of Moses on Mount Sinai, representing the Ten Commandments as a foundation for the Jerusalem Altar.

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User Reviews

S Thomson (55 days ago)
A breath taking church. Beautiful, if you can you must visit. Very good for your soul and welcoming. Hearing songs sang in the echo of the church reminded me of Italy. I recommend going there if you are having a hard time in life and letting the environment hug your heart.

Brittani Burma (2 months ago)
My company hosted their annual party here, it was absolutely stunning. The venue itself is huge & full of pillars. We had a huge cocktail party out front before moving the party inside. Highly recommend would visit again!

Y.C. Wu (2 months ago)
The cathedral is much larger and more beautiful than we initially thought. The $15 ticket covers the visit for the ground floor, the basement level and the 7th floor. The view of DC from the 7th floor is really amazing, particularly during sunset. There’s free parking lot for the cathedral visitors.

Z Liu (2 months ago)
Very beautiful. Reminds us of Westminster church in London. But it seems bigger. There are 3 levels open to public touring. The main or Nave level, the underground level where there are a few more small chapels, and the 7th floor tower where one can view the DC area. Outside, there is a Bishop garden and a cafe, which are both very nice.

SpaceTime Beside Me (3 months ago)
The Washington National Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a stunning Neo-Gothic architectural masterpiece located at 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016... ~Architecture-It's the sixth-largest cathedral in the world and the second-largest church building in the United States... The cathedral features intricate stained glass windows, including the famous Space Window, which contains a piece of moon rock... ~Historical Significance-The cathedral has been the site of many historic events, including presidential funerals, inaugural prayer services, and the final Sunday sermon delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ~Visitor Experience-Over 270,000 people visit the cathedral annually to experience its majestic architecture, soul-stirring music, and thought-provoking public programs... !Worship and Events-The cathedral hosts regular worship services, concerts, and public programs. It's a place of prayer and reflection for people of all faiths....

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