Washington National Cathedral

Open to all faiths and creeds, this house of worship, while run by the Episcopal diocese, has conducted services for Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Baha’is. Presidents attend multifaith services following their inauguration, state funerals are hosted inside and this was where Martin Luther King Jr gave his last Sunday sermon. Technically, it took 82 years to build this edifice – Teddy Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1908, and construction didn’t technically stop until 1990. The National Cathedral has become such an iconic feature of the city skyline it is hard to imagine a time when its construction was a controversial issue, but there was some strong opposition to this building back in the day. Critics argued that cathedrals were more European than American, and that their proportions were a symbol of religious power that didn’t jive in a nation partly founded on the premise of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. However, the multifaith character of worship here helped mollify these arguments. The building is elegant, but also powerfully neo-Gothic. While it wouldn’t look out of place in many European cities, it’s embellished by some American accents. In a nod to US geography, the column capitals on the north side of the building include igloo motifs. One of the interior stained-glass windows is studded with a moon rock, and Darth Vader’s head shares spaces with the gargoyles arranged around the parapets. A diverse range of themed tours takes in all of the above; check the website for details and to make advance bookings. Take the elevator to the tower overlook for expansive city views. In the main sanctuary, chapels honor the Apollo astronauts, Martin Luther King, Abe Lincoln, and abstract ideas such as peace and justice; in the crypt, you can find the bodies of Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson, among others. Outside, the charming Bishop’s Garden is graced with winding paths that lend a mood of solitude. The 11am Sunday service features lovely choral music and a 10-bell peal of the carillon afterwards. Cathedral choristers sing Evensong at 5:30pm Tuesday to Thursday during the school year.