


The tour includes a slideshow followed by a guided outdoor tour, providing guests a chance to spot many of the whimsical gargoyles and grotesques, including monsters, dogs, cats, birds, horses-and even Darth Vader. Take a tour with a gargoyle expert and learn the history of these fascinating creatures. Gargoyle Tours: Available April through October.Paul Room, complete with panoramic views of Washington, DC. Afterward, enjoy tea and scones in the beautiful St. A guided tour highlights the cathedral’s art, architecture, and history. Tour and Tea Program: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m.Other events held here have included a National Day of Prayer for Victims of Hurricane Katrina, funeral services for civil rights leader Dorothy Irene Height, memorial services for the victims of the school shooting in Newtown, CT, and former South African President Nelson Mandela. Bush honored the victims of that day with a special prayer service here. The Cathedral was the setting for State funerals for four presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H. Services were held here to rejoice the end of World Wars I and II. Over the years, the National Cathedral has been the host of many national memorial services and celebrations. The top of the Gloria in Excelsis Tower is the highest point in Washington, DC, while the Pilgrim Observation Gallery in the Cathedral's two west towers offer dramatic views of the city. The Cathedral is English Gothic in style with exquisite sculpture, wood carving, gargoyles, mosaics, and more than 200 stained glass windows. The National Cathedral is an impressive structure and if you like to see amazing architecture, taking a tour should be at the top of your "to do" list when visiting the nation's capital. The Cathedral is known as Washington National Cathedral, though its official name is the Cathedral Church of St. Although it is the home of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington and it has a local congregation of more than 1,200 members, it is also considered to be a national house of prayer for all people. The National Cathedral in Washington, DC is the sixth largest cathedral in the world.
