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The National Cathedral,
completed in 1990, is the culmination of a long-planned Gothic style
cathedral in our Capitol. The richly decorated cathedral is located in
Northwest Washington. It consists of a long narrow rectangular mass, an
eight bay nave and a five bay chancel, intersected by a six bay transept. Rising over 300 feet in the center is the Gloria in Excelsis Tower. The
Cathedral is the sixth largest in the world, second largest in the United
States. The top of the tower is the highest point in DC. The building is
loaded with architectural sculpture, wood carving, leaded glass, mosaics,
artistic metal work, and many other works of art, including over 200
stained glass windows.
The
Cathedral became a place for services of national focus. When the United
States entered World War II in 1941, monthly services “On behalf of a
united people in a time of emergency” began. The Cathedral has been
the location of many significant events, including the funeral services of
Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Its pulpit was the last one from
which Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke prior to his assassination. The
Cathedral is the burial place of many notable people, including Helen
Keller, Admiral George Dewey, and President Woodrow Wilson.
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