A National Cathedral was first proposed in 1791 by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the man charged with designing the layout of the city of Washington, DC. However, it was not until 1893 that the idea took momentum and congress granted a charter to the Episcopal Cathedral Foundation to build the beautiful and symbolic building. It was the longest running construction project in Washington, DC breaking ground in 1907, and 1990 marked the end of construction. A magnitude 5.8 earthquake rocked DC in 2011, and the every on-going construction has begun anew. The National Cathedral is open to visitors where you can tour the grounds, sit for a worship service, buy plants and gifts at the Herb Cottage, or attend a lecture. On your tour you will encounter stunning architecture, grinning gargoyles, (including one fashioned after Darth Vader!), and beautiful gardens. Suggested price for touring the Cathedral is $10. Located at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, open 7 days a week.