Darth Vader Grotesque

The Darth Vader Grotesque at Washington National Cathedral.

In the 1980s, while the Cathedral’s two west towers were under construction, the Cathedral held a design-a-carving competition for children. Word of the competition was spread nationwide through National Geographic World magazine. The third-place winner, Christopher Rader, submitted a drawing of that fearful villain: Star Wars’ Darth Vader.

The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter, carved by Patrick J. Plunkett, and placed high upon the northwest tower of the Cathedral.