Darth Vader Grotesque, Limestone sculpture at Washington National Cathedral, United States.
The Darth Vader grotesque stands on the northwest tower of the cathedral, carved from limestone by Jay Hall Carpenter and Patrick J. Plunkett.
In 1980, during the cathedral construction, Christopher Rader won third place in National Geographic World Magazine children's contest for his Vader design.
The grotesque merges religious architecture with contemporary entertainment, placing a Star Wars character among traditional gothic decorative elements.
Binoculars are necessary to spot this architectural element from ground level, as it sits high on the cathedral's northwest tower.
The sculpture functions as part of the cathedral's water drainage system, directing rainwater through the top of Vader's head.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Inception: 1980
Creator: Jay Hall Carpenter
GPS coordinates: 38.93050,-77.07150
Latest update: May 27, 2025 10:00
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