National Cathedral Gargoyle Tours Make Post-Earthquake Return

WASHINGTON -- The Washington National Cathedral will be offering tours of its unique stone carvings for the first time since the building was damaged by an earthquake last year.

Tours exploring more than 100 gargoyles perched on the cathedral's facade will begin again Sunday at 2 p.m. The gargoyles include monsters, dogs and horses, as well as "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader.

The cathedral had to suspend the tour, as well as other regular events, following a 5.8-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 23. The quake caused stonework to fall from the building's towers and other damage. The cathedral reopened to the public in November.

Repairs are expected to take years. As of February 2012, the cathedral had raised $2 million toward the estimated $20 million restoration.

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• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Photo by Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapadgett/2534093264/" target="_hplink">Laura Padgett</a></em>

• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Photo by Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/6623042047/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">dctim1</a></em>

• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at the Washington National Cathedral <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/glass_window/409432300/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">scott*eric</a></em>

• Cathedral Tower Tour

  Visitors descend the central tower of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2012. The cathedral opened the central tower to tourist for the first time since the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake.

• Gargoyles At Washington National Cathedral

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Photo by Flickr user<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapadgett/2533103207/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink"> Laura Padgett</a></em>

• Cathedral Tower Tour

  Visitors ascend the central tower of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2012. The cathedral opened the central tower to tourist for the first time since the Aug. 23, 2011, earthquake.

• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Photo by Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurapadgett/2534058546/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">Laura Padgett</a></em>

• Cathedral Tower Tour

  The earthquake-damaged tower of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC is seen from the central tower on March 24, 2012. The cathedral opened the central tower to tourist for the first time since the Aug. 23, 2011 earthquake.

• Earthquake Damage At Washington National Cathedral

  A girl looks earthquake-damaged pinnacles at the National Cathedral on March 24, 2012 in Washington, DC. Tourists toured the cathedral's central tower for the first time since the 5.8 neartquake hit the US capital on Aug. 23, 2011.

• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlingtrk/2937993171/" target="_hplink">darlingtrk</a></em>

• Washington National Cathedral Gargoyle

  A gargoyle at Washington National Cathedral <em>Photo by Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/6623042617/sizes/l/in/photostream/" target="_hplink">dctim1</a></em>