Washington D.C. Temple

About

The Washington D.C. Temple (originally known as the Washington Temple until 1999) is the 16th operating temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located in Kensington, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., and the Capital Beltway, it became the church's first temple east of the Mississippi River since the original Nauvoo Temple, completed in 1846. At 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2), it is the church's third-largest temple. Construction was completed in 1974 at a cost of $15 million (about $116 million in 2024). More than 750,000 people attended a seven-week open house before its dedication.

Designed to blend mid-century modern elements with traditional temple architecture, it has six gold-tipped spires modeled after the Salt Lake Temple. The temple has no cathedral-like space; instead, most rooms have no windows. Standing 288 feet (88 m) tall, the temple's central eastern tower was the church's tallest at its dedication. It supports a 18-foot (5.5 m) gilded statue of the angel Moroni. The temple's 57-acre (23 ha) wooded site was chosen to make it a landmark along the Capital Beltway, and traffic reports often refer to it as "the temple". Since 1978, the temple has hosted the annual Festival of Lights, drawing thousands to see live performances and millions of holiday lights, with a foreign ambassador as guest speaker each year. The temple is accessible to church members with a current temple recommend.