Darth Vader grotesque at Washington National Cathedral

The Washington National Cathedral includes a modern carved grotesque on its northwest tower that is widely referred to as the "Darth Vader" grotesque because of its resemblance to the Star Wars character. The carving was added as part of 20th-century work on the cathedral and is one of several contemporary grotesques and memorial carvings. The cathedral and many guidebooks acknowledge the figure as a deliberate modern addition that has become a popular oddity for visitors.