Basilica of the National Shrine: largest Catholic church in North America

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., is widely described in institutional and architectural sources as the largest Roman Catholic church in North America and one of the ten largest churches in the world by area. Construction began in 1920 and the basilica contains extensive mosaics, chapels, and sculptural programs reflecting its national role. The basilica is an active place of worship and a documented landmark of Catholic architecture in the United States.