Masonic Temple

The historic Masonic Temple in downtown Philadelphia is an impressive ceremonial and event building completed in 1873 in the Norman Revival style. As the meeting place of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the building houses seven lavishly appointed halls, each modeled on a different architectural era. Here you can admire rooms inspired by the Temple of Luxor, the Alhambra, or Gothic and Ionic styles, with the Corinthian Hall serving as the largest assembly room. The building has been protected as a National Historic Landmark since 1985, largely thanks to its richly detailed interior. A particular highlight is the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, housed inside. The collection includes tens of thousands of books and documents, among them the first Masonic book printed in America, by Benjamin Franklin, as well as a Geneva Bible. The exhibition explores the ties between America's Founding Fathers and Freemasonry and displays valuable artifacts such as George Washington's Masonic apron and an engraving by Paul Revere.