Sacred buildings are the cornerstone of life for communities all across America, representing some of the greatest feats of innovative engineering and artistic design. Embedded in the architecture of these churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples is a secret language of sorts that influences both the faithful inside and the broader culture outside. Examples include hidden messages in stained-glass windows, the surprising reason for tall steeples, the influence Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on gothic architecture, and the curious gargoyle on the Washington National Cathedral, which looks remarkably similar to Darth Vader.

This one-hour documentary is narrated by LeVar Burton.