Masonic Temple, Renaissance Revival temple in Washington, United States
The Masonic Temple is a structure in Washington featuring limestone and granite walls with elaborate columns and classical design elements across multiple levels. The building contains formal ceremonial spaces on upper floors and a large hall on the ground level that once hosted public events.
The building was completed in 1908 by architect Waddy B. Wood, replacing an earlier structure from 1870. It originally served as headquarters for the Grand Lodge before becoming a public venue.
The building transformed from a Masonic center into the National Museum of Women in the Arts in 1983, marking a shift in its community purpose.
The building is located in central Washington and is easily reached by walking from several public transit stops. The ground floor is generally accessible to visitors, depending on what events or programs are happening that day.
The ground floor functioned as a public movie theater from 1941 to 1983, showing films to the neighborhood. This period revealed how the space adapted to serve different community needs over decades.
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