Dahlgren Chapel, Washington D.C.

Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart, dedicated in 1893, is the main Catholic chapel on the campus of Georgetown University, seating 250 people. Although a century younger than the university itself, it has become a cornerstone of spiritual life at the nation's oldest Catholic university. The chapel serves as a sanctuary for tranquility and reflection, embodying the deep faith and spiritual sustenance central to the Georgetown community. Over the years, generations of students, faculty, staff, and alumni have found in Dahlgren Chapel a place for attending Mass, exchanging vows at weddings, seeking reconciliation in confessions, celebrating baptisms, and finding moments of quiet contemplation.

The chapel is situated in Dahlgren Quadrangle, surrounded on three sides by some of Georgetown's oldest buildings, making it not only an iconic structure on campus but also a historic landmark in the local area. This setting enhances the chapel’s serene atmosphere, offering a sense of holiness and prayer for those who gather there.

Beneath the chapel's altar lies the Dahlgren family crypt, where Elizabeth and John Dahlgren, along with their son Joseph, are buried. Additionally, the chapel houses an iron cross believed to have been brought by the first settlers from England to Saint Mary's, making it a significant artifact in American Catholic history. Despite its historical significance, the chapel has also found its place in popular culture, with its exterior featured in the 1973 film "The Exorcist" and its sequel "The Exorcist III" in 1990.