Darth Vader grotesque at Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral includes a carved stone grotesque on its northwest tower that resembles the Star Wars character Darth Vader, installed during late 20th-century stonework. The cathedral’s carvers incorporated a number of modern and whimsical figures alongside traditional Gothic imagery, and the Darth Vader grotesque is widely documented as one of the most visited examples. The feature is a noted example of the cathedral’s program of contemporary carvings added during its long 20th-century construction and restoration campaigns.