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Visit the National Cathedral
Best time to visit
Late afternoon around 3-4 PM, when the sun streams through the stained glass rose window and casts colored light across the nave. Weekday mornings are the quietest for a more contemplative visit.
Budget tips
Suggested donation is $10 per adult, but no one is turned away. The evensong services are free and open to the public, offering a magical musical experience without the admission fee.
Recommended for
Architecture enthusiasts, Photography lovers, History buffs, Music lovers
Plan your visit
2-3 hours
About
Quick facts: The National Cathedral took 83 years to build, finally completing in 1990 with the placement of the final finial. Its central tower rises 301 feet above the ground, making it the second-tallest cathedral in the United States.
Highlights: Carved into the top of the cathedral's west facade is a stone sculpture of Darth Vader's head, hidden among the whimsical grotesques by a stonemason who won a children's design contest in the 1980s. Look up at the Space Window, which contains a genuine piece of lunar rock collected by the Apollo 11 crew, glowing blue when sunlight streams through.
Insider tips
- Bring binoculars to spot the Darth Vader gargoyle high on the northwest tower without straining your neck.
- Visit during evensong (most weekdays at 5:30 PM) to hear the choir sing in the soaring acoustic space at no cost.
- Take the guided 'Highlights Tour' which includes access to areas closed to general visitors, like the observation level.
- Arrive early on Sundays for the 10 AM service to hear the world-famous organ, one of the largest in the country with 10,650 pipes.
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