National Cathedral in DC to charge tourist fee

[flowers]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REL_NATIONAL_CATHEDRAL_ADMISSION_FEE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-25-16-17-23

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Struggling to cover its costs, Washington National Cathedral has decided to begin charging an admission fee for tourists who visit the church beginning in 2014.

Cathedral officials said Monday that they will begin charging a $10 fee for adults and $6 for children, seniors and military members in January. Admission will be free on Sundays, as well as on weekdays for those who visit to worship or pray.

The Rev. Gary Hall, the cathedral's dean, said the decision to charge a fee was made reluctantly. But he noted that the cathedrals of Europe charge fees to help fund their upkeep.

"All we are charging for is tourism essentially," Hall said. "We're not charging for the essential services of the cathedral."

[mountaineer]

But he noted that the cathedrals of Europe charge fees to help fund their upkeep.

True. Those are the ones we skip.