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The Washington National Cathedral is an impressive gothic structure welcoming over 700,000 visitors and worshipers every year. The sheer grandeur and fine detail of the Cathedral is astounding with ten-story vaulted ceilings made of marble and limestone harnessing the acoustics of the 10,650 pipes in the Great Organ. The Cathedral was completed in 1990, eighty-three years to the day after its construction began in 1907. The Cathedral's center tower is as tall as a thirty-story building and is the highest point in the District of Columbia. The Washington National Cathedral is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States. For visitors, some of the most interesting elements of the Cathedral will be the 110 gargoyles on the Cathedral's exterior. Also, there are 215 stained glass windows in the Cathedral along with the curious "Space Window," which contains a piece of lunar rock that was presented to the Cathedral by the astronauts of Apollo XI. Tours are offered seven days a week at various times throughout the year so call ahead to plan a visit, to attend a service, or to hear a demonstration on the Great Organ.
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