Posted on 08/24/2011 7:38:09 AM PDT by markomalley
The Washington National Cathedral sustained significant damage in the earthquake that hit D.C. on Tuesday afternoon.
Damage included arch displacement, cracking, falling limestone and rotating pinnacles on the Cathedral's neogothic towers.
National Cathedral Head Mason Joe Alonso estimated a piece weighing about 3,000 pounds toppled from the central tower. He called the damage to that section of the Cathedral "mind boggling."
A link to video of Alonso detailing the damage was tweeted by the National Cathedral on Wednesday morning.
"A lot of what fell, we're fortunate that it fell in toward the roof and not out toward the streets," Alonso said in the video.
National Cathedral staff tweeted out information about damage sustained by the historic building on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning following the 5.8 magnitude earthquake felt across a large portion of the East Coast on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the first questions answered through Twitter may have brought a sigh of relief to fans of the sci-fi trilogy Star Wars. "We've checked, and Darth Vader appears to be okay," staff tweeted.
The Star Wars villain is one of the many gargoyles included on the northwest tower of the Cathedral.
The National Cathedral is the fourth tallest structure in Washington, D.C. Its foundation was laid in 1907.
left, right, whatever.
Ironic that the Washington archdiocesan cathedral would be named after the tax collector.
My bad.
The difference is minimal.
My point is still the same.
Reminds me of the silly moniker:
“Dallas Cowboys is America’s Team.”
B.S.
Like you, I attended precisely one service there, in the eighties. I watched in disgust as Justice O’Connor and other significants received communion. I have always wondered what they believed they were doing.
The Episcopal church has evolved into another liberal political institution.
My mistake, then.
No, the Catholic Cathedral is the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle -- on M St NW at the eastern edge of Georgetown.
You are thinking of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, located on the campus of CUA. It is the largest Catholic Church in the USA, but Cardinal Wuerl's sede is located at St Matthew's, not the Shrine.
LOL. Whatever you say.
Actually, it’s a very ugly building, time to let it go.
union made
Thanks for the link!
BBL re: Architecture
What tax dollars?
Washington National Cathedral is operated by the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation (PECF), which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a not-for-profit, educational 501(c)(3) organization. All gifts to the Cathedral and memberships in the National Cathedral Association are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
The Cathedral was built and is operated solely on the support of private donations. The Cathedral receives no support from the federal government or any national church.
Of course most of Europe, like the USAs East, doesnt normally have earthquakes.
Or heard of the 100,000 who died in a 20th century earthquake in Italy and Sicily.
Or Yugoslavia...
Bigotry and so much more - it angers me so much I have to take my afternoon/blood pressure nap early.
Bfl
Whatever cathedral it is, I think it’s bizarre to put Darth Vader on it.
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