From Crypt to Roof: Vertical Tour of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Built during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan is a monument to its time — and still unfinished over 125 years later. But how did the world’s largest cathedral come to rise in New York City, and what masterpieces lie hidden within its soaring interior? Lace up your sneakers and get ready to uncover the history and architecture of the world’s largest cathedral like never before.

Join New York Adventure Club for an exclusive vertical tour through the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where we'll explore its most iconic architectural highlights throughout a 12-story ascent to the roof before venturing below into the rarely-seen crypt.

Led by a Cathedral Educator, our intimate behind-the-scenes experience will include:

• An overview of the Cathedral’s history and architecture, including why it was built in two different styles
• Stories behind the building’s ongoing construction, and what it means for the future of the Cathedral
• A climb up one of the Cathedral’s spiral staircases, with stops at the triforium, a buttress, the ceiling above the nave, and even the roof — rising 124 feet in total
• A peek at the famous Guastavino-tiled spiral staircase
• An exclusive trip into the crypt, one of the Cathedral’s most hidden spaces — hear the stories of the entombed while exploring the vaults beneath the chapels

See you there!

*Please bring water and wear a comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking and stair climbing for the duration of the tour — 12 stories in total!

**Please note that the spiral stairwells are quite narrow, and can be uncomfortable for those with claustrophobia — if you choose to not ascend or descend the cathedral stairs, you may wait on the ground floor for the group to return

***Guests must be at least 12 years old to visit the crypt

Testimonials

"Touring parts of the cathedral that are largely inaccessible felt magical. Additionally, the time of day (with the sunlight filtering through the stained glass windows) was beautiful, as was the rooftop view. Our tour guide, Bill, was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, approachable, and funny." -Kristie

"The cathedral is an amazing place and hearing about the history gave me a new appreciation. Bill’s knowledge is impressive without an ego. It was one of best tour guide I’ve experienced." -Rosemarie

"The architecture, The views getting a chance to see all different sides of the cathedral that you wouldn’t typically get to see if you just walked in. I think it was stunning, breathtaking, and anyone who loves history or loves architecture would really admire this experience" -Sonia

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Categories: In-Person, Houses of Worship