The Darth Vader grotesque is one of many grotesques that are part of the National Cathedral's rain control system. The grotesques deflect rainwater by bouncing it off the tops of their heads and away from the stone walls.
[3]
In the 1980s, during the construction of the northwest tower, a children's competition was run by
National Geographic World
to draw grotesques for the building. Christopher Rader won third-place, with his drawing of
Star Wars
villain
Darth Vader
. The head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter and the stonecarver was Patrick J. Plunkett.
[4]
The Darth Vader grotesque is difficult to see with the naked eye, and binoculars are generally needed to spot it. It is located on the north side of the cathedral. Other winning designs were a raccoon, a girl with
pigtails
and
braces
, and a man with large teeth and an
umbrella
.
[5]