Washington National Cathedral
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Washington National Cathedral - by Siubo11A (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Description
The Washington National Cathedral is an Episcopal Church (Anglican Union) located in Washington D.C. It was designed in Neo-Gothic style (inspired by English Gothic style) by G.F. Bodley with pointed arches, flying buttresses and stained-glass windows. Construction starting in 1907 and progressed throughout the 20th century. It is sometimes used for events and services of national importance such as state funerals of American presidents. The Gloria in Excelsis Tower reaches 92m in height and has two full sets of bells (a 53-bell carillon and a 10-bell peal for change ringing). Parts of the interior elements have been carved out of stones from famous religious sites such as Solomon's Quarry near Jerusalem and Canterbury Cathedral. Renovation work from the 2011 Virginia earthquake is still ongoing.
Access & Transport
The Cathedral is located at the corner of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, 5km of the northwest of downtown Washington DC. The N2, N4 and N6 bus services stop nearby at the junction of Massachusetts Ave & Wisconsin Ave. Alternatively, Cleveland Park (Red line) and Tenleytown (Red) metro stations are 1.5km and 2km away, respectively. There is an underground parking at the monument, entrance is via Wisconsin Avenue, at the traffic signal just south of Woodley Road.
Instructions & Recommendations
Dress properly as this is a place of worship. Please double check the opening days and time before heading there as they vary on a weekly basis. Standard ticket includes a self-guided brochure and an audio tour can be purchased for an additional $5 onsite.
Environmental & Social
The running environmental footprint is low and admission fees help maintain this architectural heritage
Conclusion
Grand, impressive but obviously lacks the cachet or charm and historical background of a multi-century European church. This doesn't mean one should wait 200 years to visit of course but, given the high admission fee and large number of cultural options in downtown DC, we would not advise a visit except to one who has never set foot outside of the USA.
Key positive
Visually striking
Bright stained-glass windows
Key negative
Expensive sightseeing fee
Only connected to downtown by bus
Suitability
No religious denomination restrictions. Most of the Cathedral’s areas are wheelchair accessible
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
Updated in August 2023
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 30m
est. visit time:1h
Monday10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday -
Wednesday10:00 - 17:00
Thursday10:00 - 17:00
Friday10:00 - 17:00
Saturday10:00 - 17:00
Sunday -