George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Masonic temple in Alexandria, United States
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial rises as a 101-meter tower over Alexandria, combining neoclassical, Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival and Renaissance elements. Its ten floors contain exhibition rooms, ceremonial halls and a library holding masonic historical documents.
After Washington's death in 1799, the Alexandria-Washington Lodge led the funeral service, which led in 1907 to an association planning a lasting memorial structure. The cornerstone was laid in 1923 and construction was completed over several decades.
The tower houses personal items from Washington's lodge years, including his own ceremonial working apron. Visitors today can trace how masonic rituals unfolded and what symbolic meaning individual objects held for members.
Guided tours unlock the ten floors, with two elevators easing access to the exhibitions. The building is also available for events such as weddings and conferences.
The tower design draws on the ancient Lighthouse of Ostia in Italy and uses granite as building material throughout. This deliberate reference to Roman harbor architecture symbolically connects the tradition of antiquity with masonic iconography.
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