We love visiting beautiful places. Places that were designed and inspired by greatness. Places that are maintained out of respect and reverence. Places like churches.
In our travels, we have found that our greatest attraction is churches. There are many around, but so few have doors open to the general public that it should be a crime when we cannot get in. For us, we want to see the art and architecture, but there is a need in today’s society for a peaceful place to go and seek quiet solitude from the chaos that surrounds us.
We visited Washington, D.C., between Christmas and New Years. Our original plans of going to New Brunswick were cancelled, but me being me, I was not going to miss the opportunity to take some vacation time. Washington, D.C., is a great place to see since there is so much to experience that it became hard to decide what to prioritize and what to skip.
Sometimes, my problem is finding places to go in the morning. Many attractions during this time of the year have reduced hours or open late. This was my dilemma on this particular day when making the itinerary. We don’t like to waste time waiting for something to open if there is something else we can do, like taking a mural tour, walking in a park, or hiking to a waterfall.
While researching, I stumbled upon the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. They offered regular tours, and the first tour started early enough that our time was well spent doing something instead of nothing. I would call these places that we do before the day’s main attraction an “Add-on site,” meaning that if we missed it, that is okay.
Boy, I was wrong.
This Basilica was no add-on site but the main feature of our entire trip.
We arrived early and toured the outside. It is a large building dwarfing everything around it, including other tourists admiring the outside features. After this exploration, we waited for our tour guide, who was the best tour guide there could be. He was knowledgeable and full of pride for the place where he was leading us. He admitted that the name of this location is a mouthful for many. He told us when this National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception became the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Basilica is an honour given only to places of historic importance or great beauty. But oddly, this Shrine is only a minor basilica. “How can that be? Look at the grandeur of the shrine.” Major basilicas are only found in Rome; anywhere else, they are called minor.
We happened to visit during Christmas time. For the tour guide, he would say that Christmas is his and the shrine’s favourite time of year. Many of the locations within the basilica were beautifully decorated for this important religious season. Our guide took us through some, pointing out influential art, various saints, and different nationalities and discussing the history. One fact that surprised me is that the basilica was only recently completed. Just a few years ago, the final touches were made. During the construction way back in 1920, there was a lot of hope and excitement to build. Sadly, the Depression hit, and then there was a World War, so money was needed elsewhere. This church would be built in stages and ultimately be finished in 2017 when the Trinity Dome was installed, making it one of the largest murals of its kind in the world and making the shrine the largest church in America and one of the largest in the world.
After our tour, we were able to wander around and admire the art and significance of this location. It might be America’s shrine, but it honours so many cultures and nationalities that it is a shrine for the entire world.
I was stunned and embarrassed when I told Charlene this was an add-in spot, and I had it on my skip list. We had spent close to three hours in this location, which I had used to fill in the time before another attraction. This basilica should not be skipped; instead, it should be the main focus of a trip to the D.C. area. Tours are free, and the art and its meaning are things everyone should experience.
- Paid parking is available on-site. It is a reasonable price.
- There is a gift shop and a bookstore. A cafe is open during the busier tourist season.
- Tours can be pre-booked online, but it is possible to come in and see this place on its own. A tour guide is best because they offer insight you might miss otherwise.
- This is an active place of worship; please be respectful of others when exploring this landmark.
- To find this location, visit my Featured Map, which showcases many of the places we have travelled.
- Alternatively, check out Christmas in Washington 2023 Map that I created specifically for our time visiting D.C..
