Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, National Catholic shrine at Michigan Avenue, Washington, D.C., United States.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a national shrine and architectural structure in Byzantine Revival style in Washington, D.C., built from brick. The church covers roughly 7,200 square meters (77,500 square feet) and stands as the largest Roman Catholic church in North America, with a structure that draws on Byzantine architectural elements.
The foundation stone was laid in 1920 after American bishops declared the Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception as patroness of the United States. Construction continued over decades, with the building gradually expanded and completed only in the second half of the 20th century.
Over 80 chapels and oratories inside display religious artworks from Catholic communities of different origins who have made this a spiritual home. Each chapel reflects the traditions and customs of a particular immigrant group, from Irish to Polish, from Filipino to Latin American congregations.
The shrine is served by the Brookland–CUA station on the Red Line, roughly 550 yards (500 m) away. The building has two levels: the Great Upper Church above and the Crypt Church below, plus a basement cafeteria. It was designed to hold 10,000 worshippers and was fitted with air conditioning and a radiant heating slab.
The Great Upper Church was designed to hold 10,000 worshippers, and the Crypt Church below seats more than 400. The last tiara worn by a pope, that of Paul VI, who set it aside in 1963, is displayed inside the basilica. The Trinity Dome mosaic was dedicated on December 8, 2017.
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