Playing “I Spy” at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC

The sixth largest cathedral in the world, the Cathedral of Saint Peter and St. Paul, more popularly known as the Washington National Cathedral, took almost an entire century to complete. Started in 1907, there were three different architects who helped design and execute the building of the 530 long foot cathedral, with a central tower over 300 feet tall (the tallest point in all of Washington DC!)

The all masonry building was built in 14th century Gothic style with 150,000 tons of Indiana limestone as the base.  Hallmarks of Gothic architecture can be seen throughout the cathedral: height (over 100 foot ceilings), light (there are 231 stained glass windows throughout the cathedral), and pointed arches in most rooms and chapels. Construction finished in 1990, completely funded by private donations. 

The 57 acre campus is home to the main cathedral, a small parish, and three private schools. The main cathedral hosts over 1500 services each year, mainly Protestant and Episcopal, and can welcome over 4,000 people at one time. The cathedral has been asked to host seven presidential funerals and over a dozen presidential inaugural prayer services.

In August of 2011 an earthquake in the DC area did significant damage to the cathedral. To offset some of the repair costs, in addition to private donations, the cathedral began charging fees for tours and some programs. Repairs are expected to be completed in 2027.

Note: When we visited on a holiday weekend in winter 2025, the main nave had been used for a special event and the hundreds of chairs traditionally set up for services had been removed. The main organ has also been removed for repairs, and the elevator that allows access to the 7th floor Pilgrim Observation Gallery was also under repair so we could not see that area.

Travel Tips:

Playing “I Spy” While Touring the Cathedral:

1. Make sure to borrow an Explorer Pack from the admissions team before your tour. While on tour, children can use the flashlights and toolbelt to complete a scavenger hunt.  Kids might also want to download and print coloring pages- find them there. 
2. The “rose” stained glass window in the back for the cathedral, made up of over 10,000 pieces of glass, is over 26 feet in diameter.  The entire cathedral has 231 stained glass windows. 
3. The “space” window honoring the space program. The stained glass windows include a tiny piece of the lunar basil rock collected during the Apollo 11 mission embedded in the window. The ceiling surrounding the window includes lunar rocks carved into the plaster.
4. The grave of America’s 28th President, Woodrow Wilson, the only president to be buried in Washington DC. His tomb is guarded by a sword covered in thistles to honor his Scottish ancestry.
5. Gargoyles: There are over 100 gargoyles situated throughout the cathedral, both inside and outside, including some gargoyles that mask downspouts that protect the cathedral from water damage. 
6. The 175 needlepoint kneelers in St Mary’s Chapel: Each orange cushion is hand embroidered to honor individuals who “helped shape the growth of America”, including Harriett Tubman, Edgar Allen Poe, and Herman Melville. Each kneeler also has a series of symbols related to the individual.

6. The David and Goliath tapestries and the Bishop’s chair in St. Mary’s Chapel, dating back to the 17th century. The 24 foot Flemish tapestries were donated by Larz and Isabel Anderson, who funded the building of the chapel. The Bishop’s chair is made from stone from an Abbey in England, which is what allows for the cathedral designation. Check out the cross on the altar, which is almost six feet tall! 
7. Take 37 steps down to the crypt, also called the undercroft, where construction began in 1907. There are three chapels on this lower level that tell the story of Christ: his birth, death, and resurrection. The Bethlehem Chapel, which also has needlework on the kneeler cushions, has nativity themed stained glass windows. 
8. The Chapel of Joseph of Arimathea portrays Christ’s death and burial. This is the only part of the cathedral that is fully air conditioned and heated to preserve the large painting on the wall, the largest painting in the cathedral complex. The painting includes mostly gilded gold leaf and just a few colors of paint. The urns of 200 people, including Helen Keller and Matthew Shepard, are buried in this chapel. 
9. The Resurrection Chapel is surrounded by tile mosaics (the only tile mosaics in the entire cathedral) that tell the stories of seeing Jesus after death. There are approximately 12 people entombed throughout the cathedral, including the tomb of the second bishop of Washington. 

Looking for other adventures in Washington DC? See our index of posts here and our full Washington DC City Guide here.