Workers Begin Removing Spires at Washington National Cathedral as Repairs Advance

Workers at the Washington National Cathedral in the Cathedral Heights neighborhood of Northwest Washington have begun removing decorative spires, according to a reader-submitted report and photographs published on a local community blog in May 2026. The activity follows months of staging and visible scaffolding around the cathedral complex on Massachusetts Avenue NW.

The reader who submitted the photos told the blog they pass the cathedral weekly and noticed crews starting to take the spires down this month. The report included on-the-ground images showing scaffolding around the upper reaches of the building and crews working near the towers.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul — commonly known as the Washington National Cathedral — has been repairing storm and earthquake damage for years. The mid‑Atlantic earthquake of August 23, 2011, a magnitude 5.8 event, caused significant harm to stonework and ornamental elements and triggered an extended restoration program.

Visible stage of a long-running restoration

Scaffolding and preparatory work have been in place around portions of the building for months as crews stabilized masonry and prepared for removal and repair of decorative elements. The recent activity marks a new, more visible phase in which specific architectural pieces are being dismantled for repair or conservation.

The work is being done on a site that draws daily pedestrian and vehicle traffic along Massachusetts Avenue NW; the cathedral is a major cultural and religious landmark as well as a frequent stop for visitors to the city. The on-site staging and crane or hoisting activity will be noticeable to commuters and neighborhood residents in Cathedral Heights and the adjacent Cleveland Park area.

What has been fixed before — and what's still ongoing

Restoration at the cathedral over the past decade has included masonry repairs, cleaning, and replacement of damaged ornamental stone, all of which are complex tasks given the scale and age of the structure. The current removal of spires is consistent with conservation practice: architects and conservators often dismantle fragile features for off-site repair, replication, or reinforcement.

The local blog post that documented the work attributed the submission to a reader contact and did not include an official schedule from cathedral leadership. The cathedral itself periodically issues updates on major work, and formal timelines and project milestones are typically announced by the institution when available.

Neighbors and visitors should expect visible activity around the cathedral through the spring and summer months as crews work on the exterior features. Access to the immediate work zone is managed to keep pedestrians and traffic clear of active construction.

Keep an eye for an official update from cathedral staff or project managers outlining the scope, timeline, and public access plan for the next stages of conservation.