Hidden Vaders

You may have heard of Hidden Mickeys? They are Mickeys hidden throughout the Disney theme parks. I mentioned that I was at the Washington National Cathedral yesterday and discovered that there is a hidden Vader -- Darth Vader, no less -- in the Washington National Cathedral in the form of a gargoyle on the northwest tower of the Cathedral. (Technically, they call it a grotesque.)  Here is a PDF from the Cathedral telling you exactly how you can find it. And here is a photo of it.

The Cathedral's Web site tells you why it is there -- as they were finishing the building, they held a contest hold for children to design decorative sculpture for the Cathedral.

Word of the competition was spread nationwide through National Geographic World Magazine. The third-place winner was Christopher Rader, with his drawing of that fearful villain, Darth Vader. The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter, carved by Patrick J. Plunkett and placed high upon the northwest tower of the Cathedral.

So... a long time ago in a Cathedral not so far away...