Construction of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., began in 1907 with the laying of the foundation stone in the presence of President Theodore Roosevelt. Built in the Gothic Revival style, the cathedral is the sixth-largest cathedral in the world and serves as the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. The building was not completed until 1990, making it one of the longest-running construction projects in American history.

The Washington National Cathedral has been invoked by American poets as a symbol of national spirituality and the search for transcendence in a secular age. It has appeared in the poetry of the Washington, D.C., literary scene and in the works of American poets reflecting on the intersection of faith, politics, and national identity, including poems that respond to the cathedral's role as the site of state funerals and national prayers.