The monastery was founded by Father Godfrey Schilling in 1898 to encourage pilgrimage to the Holy Land for those unable to travel overseas.
The complex is the only place in the world where one can visit replicas of so many Holy Land shrines in a single location.
The gardens include a collection of over 1,000 rose bushes and several rare species of trees.
The catacombs contain a replica of the tomb of Saint Peter based on the original found in Rome.
Many of the decorative elements, including the altar and statuary, were commissioned specifically from artisans in Florence, Italy, at the turn of the 20th century.
The site features a significant collection of Byzantine-style art, rare for the D.C. area.
Portions of the monastery grounds are registered as a national shrine.
The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America features full-scale replicas of ancient Holy Land shrines, including the Grotto of Bethlehem and the Tomb of Christ. Located in Washington, D.C.'s Brookland neighborhood, the complex serves as a commissary of the Holy Land, maintaining a connection to sites in Jerusalem and beyond. The property encompasses 42 acres of landscaped gardens, rose bushes, and wooded walking paths. The main church is constructed in the Neo-Byzantine architectural style, modeled after the Hagia Sophia. Its interior is adorned with intricate mosaics, stained glass, and wood carvings crafted by artisans from Italy. The catacombs below the church house replicas of various Christian sites found in Rome and the Holy Land. The monastery remains an active religious site managed by the Franciscan Friars. It functions as both a place of pilgrimage and a public botanical space.
The central courtyard garden looking back at the monastery's Neo-Byzantine domes.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to navigate both the hillside garden paths and the concrete steps in the catacombs.
Check the official website for scheduled guided tour times, as access to specific interior sections is often restricted to these sessions.
Bring a camera, as photography is generally permitted in the gardens and non-liturgical areas of the church.
Do not attempt to access restricted religious areas or private friary living quarters.
The gardens remain open daily, but interior church access and catacomb tours may be limited or suspended during certain religious holidays or private ceremonies.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; modest attire covering shoulders and knees is expected inside the church.
