Originally, this popular tourist attraction was only known simply as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, a dedication to these saintly individuals who dedicated their lives to spreading the love for their religion. Now, it is simply fondly known and called the Washington National Cathedral. Since the cathedral is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the 2nd largest in the United States alone, we assure you that the very moment you get off the rented charter bus, party bus, coach charter, mini bus or school bus, you will spend a jaw-drop moment simply staring at the amazing structure. Or you will be busy snapping pictures of it.
It is ranked extremely highly as a foreign tourist magnet and in 2009 alone, it was reported that there was nearly four hundred thousand people who toured the structure and it enjoys one thousand seven hundred thousand in attendance during Sunday service. Back then, the figure means that it is the most highly visited domestic Episcopal church for that year.
Although most do not know this but the Washington DC National Cathedral is known, also, as the National House of Prayer. However, please take note that the structure does not merely open for tours and Sunday service, many other different types of events have been held there before, related and unrelated to religion, for example the Funeral for Pamela Harriman, US Ambassador to France; Funeral for Secretary of Commerce, Robert Brown; and also Special gathering for the victims of Virginia Tech Massacre.
The National House of Prayer was damaged during the 2011 Virginia earthquake, mainly to the exterior of the building. Investigations showed that the earthquake did less damage to the insides of the massive church with some loose mortar joints and shaken some stone vaults inside.
After closing the building off from August 22, 2011 to November 7, 2011 and having pumped millions into restoring what the earthquake did, the tourist attractions is now deemed strong enough and safe for visits.
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