Odd Fellows Building and Auditorium

The Odd Fellows Building is a six-story brick structure on Auburn Avenue combining Tudor Revival details with a stone ground floor facing the street. The attached two-story auditorium with 1300 seats connected directly to the main building and provided space for performances, theater, and assemblies.

Founder Benjamin Jefferson Davis Sr. financed construction of the building in the early twentieth century as headquarters for the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The project represented a major investment demonstrating the growth and stability of Black business and community institutions in Atlanta.

The building served as a vital gathering place for the Black community in Sweet Auburn, hosting regular assemblies, concerts, and social events throughout the decades. The spaces reflected the community's values and provided a venue where people came together to connect and celebrate their heritage.

The building sits within walking distance from downtown Atlanta and is easily reached along Auburn Avenue. Visitors should plan to view the exterior facade and explore the surrounding neighborhood, as interior spaces may not always be open to the public.

Terra-cotta figures with African features adorning the exterior walls represent an early and rare example of how Black artists and designers wove their culture into urban architecture. These decorative elements are easy to overlook today but reveal the artistic ambition and self-determination of the builders.