The Wandering Disciple

Hundreds of people each year pass through the hallowed halls of the spiritual home of our nation's capital. Perched high atop a hill in DC, the Washington National Cathedral has hosted state funerals for four US Presidents, six Inauguration Day Presidential Prayer Services and much more.  The Neo-Gothic church took 83 years to complete. The first stone was laid in 1907 with President Theodore Roosevelt in attendance and the final stone was set in 1990 with President George HW Bush at the ceremony. The cathedral is the second largest in the United States and was meant to be the nation's version of England's Westminster Abbey.  Taken: February 15, 2009 at Washington National Cathedral (Washington, DC)

Sitting high atop a ridge on the edge of the nation's capital, Washington National Cathedral has served DC since 1912.  It has a place in presidential history, hosting state funerals and presidential inauguration prayers services for many of the country's leader.  The pulpit was also the spot of Dr Martin Luther King Jr's final sermon before his assassination in 1968.  Today the cathedral hosts three worship services daily, hosting almost 300,000 visitors annually.  (Photo: February 15, 2009)

Sitting high atop a hill in northern DC, the Washington National Cathedral rises above the history skyline. Construction of this massive cathedral began in 1907 and never really finished until 1990. It has been declared the National House of Prayer by the United States Congress and has hosted presidential prayer services and state funerals. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

A tall tower of the Washington National Cathedral towers over the land. At 301 feet tall, the cathedral is the fourth tallest structure in Washington DC. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

One of the four towers of the Washington National Cathedral dominate the skyline in northwestern Washington DC. The towers extend over 600 feet above the ground. A stunning view of the city can be seen from the Pilgrim Observation Gallery in the west end towers. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

The Space Window at the National Cathedral is one of over 230 stained glass windows that comprise the cathedral. The Space Window tells the story of our nation’s space program, primarily the Apollo program. The highlight of the window is the moon rock that is in the center of the window. The rock was retreived during the Apollo 11 mission to the Sea of Tranquility. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

Colorful stained glass, each telling a story, brighten the Washington National Cathedral.  The massive cathedral took over eighty years to be completed and features 231 beautiful stained glass windows.  (Photo:   February 15, 2009)

Washington, DC: Located on top of Mount Saint Alban sits the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, more commonly known as the Washington National Cathedral. The cathedral is the sixth largest in the world and the second largest in the country. It is the final resting place for many well known Americans and has been the site of some of the country’s historic moments. The idea of a National Cathedral was a portion of Pierre L’Enfant’s master plan for Washington DC. The plan commissioned by President George Washington called for a “great church for national purposes.” In 1893, President Benjamin Harrison signed a charter to establish the cathedral. Reverend Henry Yates Satterlee then purchased land on Mount Saint Alban in 1896 and the project was in motion. The cornerstone was laid on September 29, 1907 in a ceremony by President Theodore Roosevelt and the Bishop of London. The eighty three year construction of the cathedral would be the longest construction project in DC...