Washington D.C. Temple

Washington D.C. Temple
Number	16
Dedication	November 19, 1974, by Spencer W. Kimball
Site	52 acres (21 ha)
Floor area	156,558 sq ft (14,544.7 m2)
Height	288 ft (88 m)
Official website • News & images
Church chronology
← Provo Utah Temple Washington D.C. Temple → São Paulo Brazil Temple
Additional information
Announced	November 15, 1968, by David O. McKay
Groundbreaking	December 7, 1968, by Hugh B. Brown
Open house	September 17 – November 2, 1974. April 28, 2022 - June 11, 2022.[1]
Rededicated	August 14, 2022, by Russell M. Nelson[2]
Designed by	Fred L. Markham, Harold K. Beecher, Henry P. Fetzer, and Keith W. Wilcox
Location	Kensington, Maryland, U.S.
Geographic coordinates	39°0′50.68440″N 77°3′56.24639″W / 39.0140790000°N 77.0656239972°W / 39.0140790000; -77.0656239972
Exterior finish	Reinforced concrete sheathed in Alabama white marble
Baptistries	1
Ordinance rooms	6 (stationary)
Sealing rooms	14
Clothing rental	Yes
Visitors' center	Yes
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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, just north of Washington, D.C., and near the Capital Beltway, the temple's construction was announced by church president David O. McKay on November 15, 1968, with ground broken to begin construction a few weeks later, on December 7. After construction was completed, over 750,000 people attended a seven-week open house before the temple's dedication, setting an attendance record for temple open houses at the time. On November 19, 1974, church president Spencer W. Kimball dedicated the temple.

The temple is the first built by the church east of the Mississippi River since the original Nauvoo Temple was completed in 1846. The temple's 57-acre (23 ha) wooded site has historical significance, with ties to early American settlement, Native American lands, and events related to the Civil War. Designed to blend mid-century modern elements with traditional temple architecture, the temple includes six gold-tipped spires modeled after the Salt Lake Temple. The three eastern spires represent the Melchizedek priesthood, while the three western spires symbolize the Aaronic priesthood.

Standing 288 feet (88 m) tall, the temple's central eastern tower was the church's tallest at the time of its dedication. An 18-foot-tall statue of the angel Moroni, coated in gold, sits atop the tallest spire. Built at a cost of approximately $15 million, the temple has 160,000 square feet (15,000 m²), making it the third-largest temple of the church. Aligned purposefully with the Capital Beltway, it is a prominent sight for D.C.-area commuters, and traffic reports often refer to it as “the temple.”

Following renovations from 2018 to 2022, the temple was rededicated and again opened for a public tour, welcoming thousands of visitors. Artwork commissioned for the renovation reflects the church's emphasis on diversity, aligning with church president Russell M. Nelson's efforts to represent a global membership. 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.