Morocco Temple

The Morocco Temple in Jacksonville, Florida, is the oldest Shriners temple building in the state and a historic landmark on Newnan Street. Designed by architect Henry John Klutho and built between 1910 and 1911 in the Prairie style, its facade stands out for its Egyptian-inspired symbols and a distinctive horizontal emphasis. The building, constructed of reinforced concrete and stuccoed brick, was originally topped with an elaborate metal cornice, which was removed in the late 1950s. Despite these alterations, the building has been listed as a historic landmark since 1979.

Inside, the building once offered an impressive setting with stained glass, mosaic floors reminiscent of Oriental rugs, and walls of multicolored tile with ancient Egyptian motifs. Oil paintings illustrated the history of the Freemasons and the Shriners, while the auditorium ceiling, set with pieces of glass, imitated a starry night sky. In the 1910s, the hall served as an important event venue where prominent figures such as Oliver Hardy, William Howard Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt appeared or spoke.

After the Shriners moved to the suburbs in the early 1980s, an insurance brokerage bought the building and had it extensively renovated. The auditorium was replaced with an additional floor, while the historic tile facade and the staircases were preserved. Today the building houses offices of various companies and attorneys on several floors. The Jacksonville Historical Society is currently working on plans to restore the original exterior ornamentation in order to preserve the building's historic appearance.