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Christ Cathedral (Crystal Cathedral)

California

Philip Johnson's Crystal Cathedral, a church of more than 10,000 panes of glass, reborn as the Catholic cathedral of Orange County, near Disneyland.

Photo: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0

Opened in 1980 as the Crystal Cathedral, Philip Johnson's church is a star of glass: more than 10,000 silvered panes on a white steel frame, built for the televangelist Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. The Catholic Diocese of Orange bought it in 2012, and after a careful renovation it was dedicated as Christ Cathedral in 2019.

The light inside is extraordinary, filtered through hundreds of quatrefoil louvers. The campus also has Richard Neutra's glass Tower of Hope and gardens to walk.

Best Time
Year-round
Time Needed
1–2 hours
Cost Level
$$$$
Open
Every day; check christcathedralcalifornia.org for tour times
Getting There
In Garden Grove, about 15 minutes from Disneyland, off the I-5 and Highway 22.

What to See

2 of 2 are free
Free45 minutes

The Cathedral

The great glass nave, now with a Catholic altar and a vast pipe organ. Free guided tours run on many days.

Free15 minutes

Tower of Hope

Richard Neutra's 1968 tower, the first building on the campus, topped with a cross.

Know Before You Go

  • It's a working cathedral. The nave may close during Masses, weddings and funerals.
  • Parking on the campus is free.

Where to Stay

Stay near Disneyland in Anaheim.

Where to Eat

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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the California list.