Washington National Cathedral

Located at Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenue, NW, The Washington National Cathedral is a magnificent and stunning structure. The foundation stone was laid in 1907 but the work was not completed until September 29, 1990, 83 years later. A lot can happen in that time.

A 20th-century Greek-born artist sculptor, Constantine Seferlis, spent 20 years carving the stone of the National Cathedral. The Cathedral has more than 200 stained-glass windows, including a "Space Window," an abstract tribute to the Apollo 11 mission which actually contains a small moon rock.

The Washington National Cathedral also features Darth Vader. The National Geographic World Magazine held a contest where children were asked to help complete the Cathedral. They were asked to draw designs and submit them for the Contest. The third-place winner was named Christopher Rader and he drew the fearful villain, Darth Vader. His drawing was selected. Jay Hall Carpenter and Patrick J. Plunkett sculpted the fierce looking head. The sculpture was placed high up on the northwest tower of the Cathedral.

To view Darth Vader, you need to leave the building through the ramp entranceway. Go through the double wooden door of Lincoln Bay. Go down the ramp, and step into the parking lot. Then turn and look up at the tower closet to you. Darth Vader sits up high so bring binoculars. Darth Vader is almost at the top of the tower. Located between the two huge louvered arches and at the bottom of the slop of the gable is a cared grotesque Darth Vader. He located on the right and side.

There is also a carved skull closer to the ground and people sometime mistake it for Darth Vader.

Woodrow Wilson is the only president buried in Washington, DC and he is buried at the National Cathedral.

The cathedral offers tours. FMI http://cathedral.org/

Some people believe that the Cathedral is haunted. Some people believe the artist who sculpted the building is still there watching over his work.