Elizabeth and I decided to get away for Memorial Day, and where better to visit than our nation’s capital?

While we had intentions of seeing the parade on the National Mall, we ended up staying in the Georgetown area of D.C. Our modest hotel room had a view overlooking a college courtyard (which was occupied even late into the night).

Monday morning brought us the Smithsonian National Zoo (free admission!). We frequently visit zoos on our travels, as they are a mutually amusing activity; Elizabeth loves seeing animals, especially new ones, while I enjoy the challenge of capturing the experience on film.

Remind anyone else of Pride Rock?

Instead of tackling the parade crowd, we decided to find, what we believed to be, the National Cathedral. On our way to the zoo, we’d seen some large, ornate structure in the not-too-distant. We arrived at the cathedral’s underground parking, and were blown away by the spectacular site exiting the garage.

Front Face of the National Cathedral

Inside, everything to be seen had been carefully designed and crafted by American craftsmen. Stainglass and stonework were abundant. This church building rivals anything I’ve ever seen in its beauty and craftmanship.

Stainglass Window at National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

One could easily spend dozens, if not hundreds, of hours studying the beautiful stainglass windows that span the entire cathedral from floor to the ceiling nearly 100 feet up. One of the most unique windows is the Space Window, a commemoration to American ingenuity in space exploration. The window contains a piece of lunar rock!

The Space Window, Stainglass, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

One of the neatest things of the day (for me) was the War Memorial Chapel, a symbol of sacrifices given for freedom. This chapel was intertwined with ideas about the sacrifices of American soldiers, their families, and Christ–an interesting common denominator in freedom. A tapestry hung here, representing all 50 states, as well as each military service.

Tapestry in War Memorial Chapel, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Organ Pipes, National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

After touring the main level of the cathedral, we hopped on the elevator to the seventh floor. This public area is above all of the surrounding buildings for several miles, and had windows all the way around the tower. We searched and found distant landmarks, such as the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Capitol building.

We found our way next to the cathedral crypt, where there are three additional chapels and a gift shop. We left the crypt (makes me think of “Tales from the Crypt”), and relaxed in the yard next to the cathedral.

National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Want to see more pictures from our Smithsonian Zoo or National Cathedral trip?