Washington, D.C., District of Columbia story
A Pop Culture Grotesque
High up on the Northwest Tower of the Washington National Cathedral, you'll find a figure that doesn't exactly fit the traditional religious vibe. It's Darth Vader. This unusual p…
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High up on the Northwest Tower of the Washington National Cathedral, you'll find a figure that doesn't exactly fit the traditional religious vibe. It's Darth Vader. This unusual pop-culture carving was installed in 1986, but the idea actually came from a thirteen-year-old boy from Nebraska named Chris Rader.
He submitted the design during a cathedral-sponsored children's competition in 1984. Now, technically, it's a grotesque, not a gargoyle, because it doesn't have a drainage conduit. Still, it's become a favorite for movie fans who enjoy spotting a galactic villain watching over the city from a Gothic spire.
Updated June 2026