National Cathedral

Caption (left): Exterior of National Cathedral

Original Source: Theodor Horydczak, c. 1920 - 1950

Location: LC-H8-CT-C03-011 DLC

URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/thc.5a51118

Caption (right): Sanctuary in National Cathedral

Original Source: Theodor Horydczak, c. 1920 - 1950

Location: LC-H814-T-C04-149 DLC

URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/thc.5a37825

Description

by Katherine Raney

Construction began on the National Cathedral in 1907, with rock from Bethlehem serving as a cornerstone. The chapel was completed in 1912 but construction on the entire cathedral continued until 1990, with the final touches placed on the west towers. Notable features include a Darth Vader sculpture and the tomb of Woodrow Wilson. Wilson is the only president to be buried in the not only in the cathedral but in the District as well.

World War II Role

The cathedral, although not supported by the government, is strongly connected to its location in the nation’s capital. A statue of Abraham Lincoln, praying, is inside as well as a number of state flags. During World War II, the cathedral hosted memorial services as well as sermons geared toward the American public. In addition to services of many types, the cathedral’s organization also helped with recruiting nurses for the war effort. As part of Red Cross Nurse Recruiting Sunday, the National Cathedral held services for Red Cross Nurses as well as military nurses in uniform, in efforts to sign up inactive nurses as well as new, inexperienced women interested in serving their country.

The cathedral played a large part in the war effort, through services and recruitment days, that made it a key component of Washington’s home front. It aimed to serve Washington and in turn serve the country, both religiously as an example and militarily as a tool. It continues to serve a purpose outside of religious services as a historic Washington landmark, but its wartime recruiting and services specifically geared toward a country at war were left in the 1940s.

Sources

• Hart, Scott. Washington at War: 1941-1945. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1970.

• The Washington Post. “D.C. Churches to Help Drive for Nurses.” 1942, A11.

• www.nationalcathedral.org