Basilica of the National Shrine, Washington DC

Main facade and belltower on the south side. Photo Josh.

Exterior of the Basilica of the National Shrine, from east. Photo Josh.

East transept and dome. Photo Josh.

Byzantine-style tiled dome over the crossing. Photo © Helen Betts.

Interior view from the narthex. Photo Icep Lee.

Upper church interior during a service. Photo Patrick Swift.

Altar and apse mosaic of Christ. Photo Josh.

Crypt

Panoramic view of the Founder's Chapel in the crypt. Public domain.

Location map and aerial view of Basilica of the National Shrine. For a larger interactive view, see our Washington DC Map.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic minor basilica and national Marian shrine in Washington, D.C. Built on land donated by the Catholic University of America, the basilica took over a century to build and receives millions of pilgrims each year. Contrary to a common assumption, the Basilica of the National Shrine is not the Catholic cathedral of Washington - that honor goes to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.

History

In 1792, Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, the country's first Catholic bishop, consecrated the new American nation under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of Immaculate Conception.

In 1847, Pope Pius IX formalized Bishop Carroll's acclamation and officially proclaimed the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States. In subsequent years, a few priests imagined an elaborate shrine in honor of their country's patroness.

Bishop Thomas J. Shahan, also rector of the Catholic University of America, proposed the construction of a national shrine to commemorate the Immaculate Conception. He took his appeal to Pope Pius X on August 15, 1913 and received the pope's enthusiastic support. Bishop Shahan then persuaded the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America to donate land at the southwest corner of the campus for his shrine.

In January 1914, Bishop Shahan published the first issue of Salve Regina, a newsletter meant to stir enthusiasm for his project. He wrote that the shrine would be a "monument of love and gratitude, a great hymn in stone as perfect as the art of man can make it and as holy as the intentions of its builders could wish it to be." His newsletter was circulated to dioceses throughout the country and financial donations began to pour into Washington, DC.

In 1915, Father Bernard McKenna of Philadelphia was appointed by Bishop Shahan as first director of the national shrine, bringing the bishop's dream one step closer to reality. Bishop Shahan would oversee the construction of the shrine till his death on March 9, 1932. His body would be the only one interred at the national shrine.

By 1919, architectural drawings were chosen by Bishop Shahan and Father McKenna for the construction of the national shrine by a Boston firm. At first a traditional Gothic architectural style was considered. Bishop Shahan wanted his shrine to be bold and glorious and opted instead for a Byzantine-Romanesque design.

James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, blessed the foundation stone on September 23, 1920. More than 10,000 people attended the mass, including foreign ambassadors, United States government officials, military officers, and other dignitaries. In 1929, the Great Depression halted the construction above the crypt level. United States entry in World War II stalled plans to proceed even further.

Finally in 1953, American bishops under the leadership of John Noll, Archbishop ad personam of Fort Wayne, and Patrick O'Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, pledged to raise the funds necessary to complete the upper church of the national shrine. On November 20, 1959, thousands of Catholics gathered with their bishops for the dedication of the Great Upper Church. The construction of the Basilica continues today.

What to See

The National Shrine is a blend of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, with a bell tower inspired by St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. The interior consists of an upper church with a mosaic-tiled ceiling and a baldacchino over the altar and a lower church (or crypt) with numerous chapels.

Quick Facts

Site Information
Names:	Basilica of the National Shrine; Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; Basilica of the National Shrine
Location:	Washington DC, USA
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Catholic
Dedication:	Virgin Mary (Immaculate Conception)
Categories:	Churches; Catholic Shrines
Date:	1959
Status:	active
Visitor Information
Address:	400 Michigan Avenue, Washington DC
Coordinates:	38.933442° N, 77.000749° W (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:	View hotels near this location
Phone:	202/526-8300
Website:	www.nationalshrine.com
Opening hours:	Apr-Oct: daily 7-7 Nov-Mar: daily 7-6
Cost:	Free
Services:	Sat: Vigil Mass at 5:15 Sun: Mass at 7:30, 9, 10:30, noon, 1:30 (Latin) and 4:30

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Washington DC Map - our detailed interactive map of Washington DC, plus hand-picked links to more
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Washington DC Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
Washington DC Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Wikipedia (some text incorporated under GFDL).
Fodor's Washington D.C.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - Official Website

Last updated on April 18, 2009.