Lincoln Museums/Attractions

[L Verge]

Now, ya done gone and done it -- you mentioned a favorite of mine. The National Cathedral, or more properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul of the Diocese of Washington.

First, the National Cathedral is not a Catholic Church. It is billed as the "nation's church," but it actually is an Episcopal Church. It took decades to build in the 1900s (chartered in 1893, with construction beginning in 1907 and basically completed in 1990) and then was damaged during our earthquake in 2011. Architecturally, it is beautiful and reminiscent of the grand 14th-century Gothic cathedrals of Europe. It also has many nooks and crannies and things to discover that trace important events as well as fun things. One of my favorites is the piece of moon rock that forms the center of a magnificent stained glass window. The American Institute of Architects ranks it #3 on the list of America's Favorite Architecture.

It is the 6th largest cathedral in the world and the 2nd largest in the U.S. It sits on the highest point of land in D.C.

There is no Lincoln pew in the Cathedral since the building did not exist in his time. That pew is in the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in D.C. (which also is not original to Lincoln's era and is better known for its dynamic minister of the 1950s, Peter Marshal - A Man Named Peter, ring a bell with anyone?)

As far as being "functional," there are services held at the Cathedral every day of the week every month of the year at the main altar or in some of the side chapels. It is also the church reserved for State Funerals should a family request it. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached his last Sunday sermon there on March 31, 1968. His funeral was held there about a week afterwards. Eisenhower, Reagan, and Ford all had State Funerals at the Cathedral, and five other Presidents had memorial services there.

You can also be buried (or ashes placed) there. Some of the famous include: Thomas John Clagett, first Anglican (Episcopal) Bishop consecrated in America; Admiral George Dewey; U.S. Grant's granddaughter; Cordell Hull, Secretary of State; Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan (ashes); Stuart Symington; Woodrow Wilson and his second wife, Edith. BTW: Wilson is the only President buried in Washington, D.C.

Please google Washington National Cathedral for more, including some wonderful photos on Wiki.