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Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10:30 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× The Cathedral is open from 1 pm to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 11 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

×

Climb the Cathedral’s two western towers and discover a close-up look at many gargoyles and grotesques while visiting the open-air walkway wrapping around these two towers (about 125 feet above the ground). The climb ends on the very top of the northwest tower, which provides the best views of the Cathedral itself, and 360-degree views of the surrounding area (over 200 feet above the ground).The tour lasts 75 – 90 minutes and costs $60/person.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

“Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.” Poetry and music together paint vivid landscapes, evoking unearthly vignettes from the minds of Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, one of America’s greatest orchestras, joins Cathedral Choral Society at Washington National Cathedral for this stunning marriage of music and words.

× Recorded Live Sunday, March 19, 2023 | 4:00 pm EST

You will receive a viewing link by email on the day of the performance. The performance will remain online to watch for thirty (30) days following the live performance.

“Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky.” Poetry and music together paint vivid landscapes, evoking unearthly vignettes from the minds of Edgar Allan Poe and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, one of America’s greatest orchestras, joins Cathedral Choral Society at Washington National Cathedral for this stunning marriage of music and words.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 11 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× Climb to the dizzying heights of Washington National Cathedral with various tower climb options!

The ultimate destination of this climb is the ringing chamber, 333 steps high in the Cathedral’s central tower. From here, visitors will find the best possible view of Washington, DC. The climb includes multiple views inside the Cathedral itself, up-close views of stained glass, and access to some of the Cathedral’s oldest stairs.

The Classic Tower Climb lasts 75-90 minutes and costs $50 per person. Please review the following information before purchasing tickets:

Prepare for rigorous activity.
Those with a fear of heights or enclosed spaces should not participate; stairs include both enclosed stone staircases and also open metal, spiral stairs.
Minimum height requirement: 48 inches (4 feet)
Not appropriate for young children; Infants cannot be carried on the tour.
Dress appropriately for the weather, as the weather conditions are more extreme than at ground level.

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Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× Grief and praise are both expressions of love. Yet our contemporary culture does not readily offer us rituals to acknowledge our grief or to share it publicly. If we can learn to express ourselves and ritualize our grief, it can become medicine for our community. Join Wick Poetry Center director David Hassler through guided discussion and prompts, as we explore the creative process of transforming grief into gift through the imaginative and figurative language of poetry.

Virtual Program

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Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 11 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

×

The Combination Tower Climb combines the Classic Tower Climb and Angels & Monsters climbs and lasts about two and a half hours. Explore the two western towers and includes a close-up look at many gargoyles and grotesques while visiting the open-air walkway wrapping around these two towers (about 125 feet above the ground). Climb the ringing chamber, 333 steps high in the Cathedral’s central tower, to find the best view of Washington, DC. This climb includes multiple views inside the Cathedral itself, up-close views of stained glass, and access to some of the Cathedral’s oldest stairs.

×

Discover the Cathedral’s hidden stories on the behind-the-scenes tour as you marvel at the building’s artistry and engineering. Journey through stone stairwells and passageways to see stained glass windows up close and magnificent views from the heights. Be prepared for stair climbing, close quarters, and heights.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× In Paradisum: Duruflé’s Requiem and Poulenc’s Motets
Sunday, April 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm

Join us as we journey toward Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection alongside two of Paris’s greatest twentieth-century composers. Immerse yourself in the passion and inspiration of Francis Poulenc’s penitential motets and the orchestral technicolor of his Tenebrae responsories; revel in Maurice Duruflé’s explorations of Gregorian chant; and culminate in the latter’s famous, breathtaking Requiem.

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Join us as we journey toward Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection alongside two of Paris’s greatest twentieth-century composers. Immerse yourself in the passion and inspiration of Francis Poulenc’s penitential motets and the orchestral technicolor of his Tenebrae responsories; revel in Maurice Duruflé’s explorations of Gregorian chant; and culminate in the latter’s famous, breathtaking Requiem.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× The Cathedral is open from 2 pm to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.

× The Cathedral is open from 10 am to 5 pm (Cathedral closes promptly at 5 pm).

Explore the Cathedral at your own pace with a complimentary self-guided brochure. You may arrive any time during our open hours.