The “Creation” Rose window contains more than 10,000 pieces of glass and celebrates when God declared, “Let there be light.”
“Ex Nihilo” by sculptor Frederick Hart captures the dawn of humankind and focuses visitors on the Cathedral’s creation story.
St. Peter is often depicted as the most “human” of Jesus’ followers -- stubborn, rash and yet the pillar of the Church.
St. Paul persecuted the early church, but found himself a new creation in Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus.
The Yuppie gargoyle was given in honor of a prominent New York corporate executive, who was delighted with the finished product.
State symbols abound at Washington National Cathedral, including the Missouri bear and the St. Louis Arch.
The “Scientists and Technicians Window” commemorates America’s exploration of space and man’s first steps on the moon.
A tribute to members of the Armed Services, War Memorial Chapel tells stories of sacrifice and the struggle for freedom.
The memorial to two Confederate generals has become the subject of recent controversy.
The south rose window, the Church Triumphant, contains imagery from Revelation and St. John’s vision of the throne of God.
The chapel’s red needlepoint kneelers recognize noted Americans with symbols of their contributions to our national life.
Each of the four grand pinnacles atop the central tower will need to be restored or recarved following the 2011 earthquake.
The Cathedral is the only church in North America that houses a 10-bell peal and a carillon in a single tower.
A cathedral is a cathedral because it is the bishop’s church. So it’s only natural that one of the gargoyles features a bishop.
This “Evil Too” gargoyle was carved after a student at Mt. Holyoke College won a nationwide contest.
The largest and oldest of the three rose windows includes a life-sized figure of Christ sitting in judgment at its center.
The stained glass windows in this chapel depict the parables of Jesus while the altar reredos reflects scenes from Mary’s life.
The most popular site at the Cathedral? A stone carving of Darth Vader, installed in 1986 on the north “dark” side of the Cathedral.
Each of the four grand pinnacles atop the central tower will need to be restored or recarved following the 2011 earthquake
The Cathedral’s 10 peal bells don’t produce music that you could sing along with, but it’s a sound you’ll never forget.
They look like mini bridges or arms surrounding the cathedral. But what purpose do they serve?
Sure, pinnacles are decorative and intricately carved, but they also serve a key purpose in Gothic architecture.
“The Master Carver” is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Cathedral’s master carver, Roger Morigi.
The American Rattlesnake was meant to represent American wildlife and one of the country’s first flags in the fight for independence.
They look like mini bridges or arms surrounding the cathedral. But what purpose do they serve?
The figures carved into the Cathedral’s eastern wall include its two patron saints and St. John, all looking for the Second Coming of Christ.
Bethlehem Chapel was the first portion of the Cathedral to be completed, in 1912. Services have been held daily ever since.
The Christ in Majesty window completes the Cathedral narrative that begins with creation and ends in the redemption of the world through Christ.
The Canterbury Pulpit is where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his last Sunday sermon before his assassination.
The rood screen marks the transition from the Crossing, at the center of the Cathedral, to the Great Choir and the High Altar.
Children’s Chapel was designed for a 6-year-old child and is a popular site for baptisms.
This small but beloved chapel is a microcosm of the larger Cathedral, displaying liturgical arts of wood, iron, stained glass and needlework.
The High Altar is the culmination of the Cathedral’s creation narrative, pointing toward the redemption of the world through the triumphant Christ.
The statue of America’s first president seeks to portray him as a man of faith making his way to church.
The nation’s 16th president is memorialized in the Lincoln Bay, which celebrates themes of reconciliation and reunion.
The vaulted ceiling provides support for the airy roof, but also spells out the theological underpinnings of the Christian faith.
The Great Choir features seats reserved for high-ranking bishops and the chaplains of the U.S. House and Senate.
The Catholic nun who cared for the poorest of the poor is recalled as a patron saint for human rights.
The civil rights heroine ignited the movement to end racial segregation and pricked the conscience of a nation.
Jonathan Daniels was a young Episcopal seminarian who gave his life for the cause of civil rights.
The former First Lady is recognized for her post-war role as chairperson of the United Nations’ Commission on Human Rights.
The famed advocate for the blind and disabled is buried alongside Annie Sullivan in the Cathedral crypt.
The first black bishop of Washington was an outspoken foe of apartheid and also helped complete construction of his beloved Cathedral.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was a fighter for human rights and the poor before he was assassinated in 1980.
Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council that revolutionized the Catholic Church’s relations with other Christians.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and pastor who was martyred by the Nazi regime and knew all too well the cost of discipleship.
Albert Schweitzer was a theological tour de force of the early 20th century but devoted his life medical missionary service.
Howard Thurman provided much of the theological underpinnings of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
Together, the six figures at the high altar challenge believers and nonbelievers alike to be a force for compassion in the world.
The sculpture of Dr. King recalls his last Sunday sermon before his death, preached at the Cathedral in 1968.
