Washington National Cathedral: Series 2: Gargoyles and Grotesques
“People fear what they do not understand.”
Once again the Washington National Cathedral has amazed me!
Recently I took a tour to see the Gargoyle and Grotesques. The description of the tour said their would be a lot of stairs, walking, tight spaces and you should not be afraid of heights. All true! Also shared, was all the history and thought that has went into the construction and the purpose of the Cathedral. Did you know….there are many notable people buried at the Cathedral, Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller to name a couple.
Of the fascinating architectural sculptures there are 112 Gargoyles and more than 3,000 Grotesques, one of which is Darth Vader. Gargoyles are often thought to ward off evil spirits. At the Cathedral, when it rains and the water runs down the roof, the Gargoyles purpose is to protect the building in an additional way by diverting the water away from the building.
Our tour started in the Nave, already beautiful and fascinating, and then went from the depths of the Cathedral, meandering through the walls, halls and passageways, finally landing on the top of one of the towers. As I stepped onto the roof I was not prepared for the beauty of what I was about to experience. It was a overcast and moody day and still…….Oh the views!
Once again the Washington National Cathedral has amazed me!
Recently I took a tour to see the Gargoyle and Grotesques. The description of the tour said their would be a lot of stairs, walking, tight spaces and you should not be afraid of heights. All true! Also shared, was all the history and thought that has went into the construction and the purpose of the Cathedral. Did you know….there are many notable people buried at the Cathedral, Woodrow Wilson and Helen Keller to name a couple.