Washington National Cathedral
Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves NW. Bus #30, #32, #34 or #36
from Pennsylvania Ave (downtown) or Wisconsin Ave (Georgetown), or
#N2, #N4 or #N6 from Farragut Square. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat
10am-4.30pm, Sun 8am-4.30pm (open until 9pm on weekdays May-Sept).
Suggested donation $3. tel 212/537-6200, .
The twin towers of Washington National Cathedral - the
world's sixth largest cathedral - are visible long before you reach
the church's perch on the heights of Mount St Alban in the
northwest of town. Built from Indiana limestone and modeled
entirely in the medieval English Gothic style, the Protestant
church took 83 years to build and measures more than a tenth of a
mile from the west end of the nave to the high altar at the
opposite end. Among other things, you'll find the sarcophagus of
Woodrow Wilson , the only president to be buried in the
District, and the Space Window , whose stained glass
incorporating a sliver of moon rock commemorates the flight of
Apollo 11. From the south porch (near the Washington statue), an
elevator ascends to the Pilgrim Observation Gallery , which
affords stupendous city views.
For a floor plan and information, descend to the crypt floor,
where there's an information desk and gift shop. Guided
tours are available on request at the west entrance (Mon-Sat
10am-3.15pm, Sun 12.30-2.30pm; suggested donation $3); ask one of
the purple-hatted docents.
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