Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a large Catholic basilica in Washington, D.C., located on the campus of the Catholic University of America. It is the national shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the largest Catholic church in the United States by interior area.

The complex contains an upper church with a large domed nave and a lower crypt church, together with numerous chapels and extensive mosaic decoration. The basilica is noted for its many national and devotional chapels and its large, formal interior spaces designed for pilgrimages and liturgical ceremonies.

Construction began in the early 20th century, with the crypt church completed first and major portions of the upper church finished by the mid 20th century; additional decorative work and chapels were completed over subsequent decades. The shrine functions as both an active place of worship and a site for national religious events.

The basilica sits in Northeast Washington, D.C., a short distance from the Brookland neighborhood and the Catholic University campus, accessible by local transit and car.

• Size and construction: Construction began in the early 20th century, with major portions completed mid-century; the basilica is the largest Catholic church in the United States by interior area.
• Visiting tips: Public tours and guided visits are available; weekday mornings and early afternoons outside major feast days tend to be less crowded for viewing mosaics and chapels.

What to See #

• Great Upper Church: The Great Upper Church features the main nave, marble altars, and the large domed ceiling decorated with mosaics and artwork; it is the primary worship and visitor space.
• Crypt Church: The lower Crypt Church is an earlier, smaller worship space beneath the upper basilica that contains chapels and devotional displays used for daily services.
• Mosaics and chapels: Extensive mosaic decoration and chapels dedicated to saints and national patronages are distributed through the basilica complex and are a major draw for visitors.