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, it was the church's first temple built east of the Mississippi River since the original Nauvoo Temple was completed in 1846. At 160,000 square feet (15,000 m²), it is the church's third-largest temple.

The temple's construction was announced by church president David O. McKay on November 15, 1968. Construction was completed in 1974 at a cost of some $15 million (about $147 million today). More than 750,000 people attended a seven-week open house before its dedication, an attendance record at the time for a temple open house. On November 19, 1974, church president Spencer W. Kimball dedicated the temple.

Designed to blend mid-century modern elements with traditional temple architecture, the building includes six gold-tipped spires modeled after the Salt Lake Temple. The three eastern spires represent the Melchizedek priesthood, with the three western spires representing 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. It supports an 18-foot (5.5 m) gilded statue of the angel Moroni. 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. Its 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. Following renovations from 2018 to 2022, the temple was again opened for a public tour, welcoming thousands of visitors. Artwork commissioned for the renovation reflects the church's emphasis on diversity, aligning with efforts by church president Russell M. Nelson, who performed the rededication, to represent the church's global membership.