Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral is the Episcopal cathedral in Washington, D.C., built in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1990 after a construction period that began in 1907. It serves as a national house of worship and a venue for state and civic ceremonies.

The cathedral’s interior includes a long nave, transepts and numerous side chapels with stained glass, sculpture and memorials. The building also contains a crypt with notable burials and chapels used for both private worship and public observance.

The project was planned and funded over many decades, incorporating traditional Gothic forms with 20th-century construction methods and artisanship. The cathedral hosts services, concerts, state events and guided tours for visitors interested in its architecture and memorials.

The site occupies a raised location in northwest Washington, D.C., with landscaped grounds and gardens that are accessible to the public and linked to nearby neighbourhoods and transport routes.

• Construction timeline: Construction spanned much of the 20th century, beginning in 1907 and formally completed in 1990, resulting in one of the largest Gothic Revival cathedrals in the United States.
• Notable interior features: Contains the tomb of President Woodrow Wilson and a range of named chapels and stained-glass windows, including a commemorative window with material associated with lunar missions.

What to See #

• Nave and chapels: Longitudinal nave and transepts formed in the Gothic Revival style with numerous side chapels and sculptural memorials reflecting national and ecclesiastical themes.
• Crypt and tombs: Crypt and burial spaces that include the final resting place of a U.S. president, visited as part of the cathedral's historical exhibits.
• Gardens and grounds: Gardens and grounds surrounding the cathedral that host outdoor memorials and provide views over the surrounding neighbourhood.