Washington National Cathedral

Perched on Mount Saint Alban, one of the highest points in the city, this Episcopal cathedral is among the largest church buildings in the world. Built in the Gothic style between 1907 and 1990, it features flying buttresses, stone gargoyles, and more than two hundred stained-glass windows, including one containing a lunar rock. It has hosted state funerals and national services, and the crypt holds notable interments. A whimsical carved figure of Darth Vader hides among its grotesques, added through a children's design contest.