16 Masonic Sites to See

While Pennsylvania Masons are fortunate to have one of the grandest Masonic buildings in the world – the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia – right in their backyards, there are hundreds of significant Masonic statues, libraries, museums, temples and other treasures across Pennsylvania, the United States and abroad waiting to be explored.

Also known as the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, this museum hosts a veritable wealth of history relating to Freemasonry in general, as well as America. Online exhibitions and educational resources are also available on their website.

When General and Brother Lewis Addison Armistead was mortally wounded during Pickett’s Charge, Captain and Brother Henry Bingham, an aide to General and Brother Winfield Scott Hancock, helped his brother, despite being on the opposing side, by gathering Armistead’s personal effects to be given to Hancock and promising to relay a message. The statue, made possible by Good Samaritan Lodge No. 336 members and many others, captures this moment.

Located at Freedoms Foundation, the nine-foot-tall bronze statue, donated by Pennsylvania Masons, overlooks the Congressional Medal of Honor Grove. Over 20,000 Masons and their families attended the dedication ceremony on Sept. 9, 1967.

Completed in 1915, the temple includes the Albert Pike Museum (Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction and “Morals and Dogma” author), a library named for Robert Burns (poet laureate of Masonry) and a 1,700-pipe organ.

Dedicated to the first President of the United States and highly revered Freemason, the building towers 333 feet in the sky. Inspired by the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt and celebrating 100 years in 2023, the memorial serves as a community center, museum, research center, library, performing arts concert hall, banquet hall, Masonic meeting site and tourist destination.

carillon tower reaching over 200 feet, the cathedral is among the world’s largest Masonic buildings. The world-renowned structure includes a ballroom, lounge and auditorium and was designed using only measurements which are divisible by three or 33 to reflect the degrees of Freemasonry and Scottish Rite.

This hidden treasure stands in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, at Black Camp Gap on Blue Ridge Parkway. Its construction began in 1938 by the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of North Carolina. Stones, totaling 687, were requested from brethren of Masonic lodges and concordant bodies all over the world.

Masonic Temple Detroit, MI

The world’s largest Masonic Temple, it features three theaters, three ballrooms and banquet halls. It includes a swimming pool, handball court, gymnasium, bowling alley and pool hall. The temple is a major concert and wedding venue, as well as being used to conduct Masonic business.

Iowa Masonic Library and Museum, Cedar Rapids, IA

Regarded as one of the best facilities in the world to perform Masonic research, the library houses over 250,000 volumes, of which thousands are rare Masonic items. It also includes several museums with artifacts, from Babylonian tablets and ancient Egyptian tomb art to historic military items and pioneer collections.

Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple, Guthrie, OK

Rosicrucian Park San Jose, CA

The English Grand Lodge for the Americas of the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) headquarters, the park is home to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, the Rosicrucian Research Library, the Grand Temple, the Rosicrucian Peace Garden and the Rosicrucian Planetarium. The park occupies nearly an entire city block.

Masonic

Island, Lake Metigoshe, ND

Owned by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota, Masonic Island has been the site of summertime Masonic meetings since 1905. Masonic features of the island include a set of three, five and seven steps leading up from the dock; mortared stone chairs and altar; and a large carved square and compasses.

Featuring 16 rooms and auditoriums, the 400,000 sq. ft. building was completed in 1923. One of the largest Masonic centers in the world, it is among the top three Masonic edifices in North America in overall architectural beauty and interior design.

The Shrine Peace Memorial, Toronto, Canada

Located in Exhibition Place, the memorial was presented to the people of Canada in 1930, on behalf of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, to commemorate over 100 years of peaceful relationships between Canada and the United States. It depicts an angel holding two olive branches in the air, while standing on a globe supported by sphinxes.

Goose & Gridiron London, England

All that remains of this historic pub is a blue plaque that hangs on the front of a building in the courtyard next to St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It was at the Goose & Gridiron that in 1717, four lodges came together to establish the Grand Lodge of England.

Freemasons’ Hall, London, England

Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland

Founded in 1446, the chapel has been the center of much speculation about its connection to Freemasonry. It features thousands of highly ornate carvings said to depict scenes and symbology in reference to Scottish culture, Christianity and Freemasonry. The 18th century legend of the Apprentice Pillar and the contents of the chapel’s crypt are among the ancient stories.

Completed in 1933, Freemasons’ Hall stands on a site used to hold meetings for Freemasons since 1775. Originally built as a peace memorial to honor thousands of Freemasons who died during the First World War, it is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England. The building comprises 22 lodge rooms, board and committee rooms and offices. The building is open for public events and commercial filming.