Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Galactic Grotesque
If you look up at the Northwest Tower of the Washington National Cathedral, you'll find a figure that doesn't exactly fit the traditional mold of religious art. It's Darth Vader.…
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If you look up at the Northwest Tower of the Washington National Cathedral, you'll find a figure that doesn't exactly fit the traditional mold of religious art. It's Darth Vader. This unusual pop-culture carving was installed in 1986, and it actually started as a children's design competition in 1984.
A thirteen-year-old from Nebraska named Chris Rader submitted the concept, which won third prize in a Draw-a-Grotesque contest. Sculptor Jay Hall Carpenter then brought the Sith Lord to life using the contest drawing and Star Wars reference images. Now, here is a fun art history distinction: it's technically a grotesque, not a gargoyle, because it doesn't have a drainage conduit to move water away from the building.
It's a playful reminder that even in the most traditional architecture, there's always room for a little bit of the Force.
Updated June 2026