World’s FairsFound, not built?
Old WorldMasonic Temple
Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple: New Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. Main entrance, by Cremer, James, 1821-1893
Masonic Temple: New Masonic Temple, Philadelphia. Banqueting room, by Gutekunst, Frederick, 1831-1917

Photo: Peetlesnumber1 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Masonic temple · Philadelphia, United States

Masonic Temple

On the globe
Dated
Dated 1868–73
Declared purpose
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
Today
Survives, still a lodge
Build time
About 5 years
Region
United States
Architect of record
James H. Windrim, architect: about 27 when credited (1867, born 1840). Build time on record: about 5 years.All architects of record →
On the list as
Documented

Hidden history

Found, Not Built

A Norman Romanesque temple across from City Hall, with lodge halls in Egyptian, Moorish and Gothic styles.

  1. An Egyptian hall

    One lodge room is decorated in Egyptian style.

  2. Beside City Hall

    It faces Philadelphia City Hall.

  3. Architect of record

    James H. Windrim (born 1840) was about 27 when credited with the design in 1867. The Architects of Record page asks how often a young or little-known name delivers a landmark.

Questions worth asking

  • Why Egyptian rooms?

Possible original uses

  • Lodge

What the photos show

Sources

Further viewing

Episodes from My Lunch Break (Michael Kruse), the main lens for this app. They open on YouTube.

Compare with

City hallPhiladelphia City HallPhiladelphia · USADated 1871–1901 · Survives, still the city hallCity hallMilwaukee City HallMilwaukee · USADated 1893–95 · SurvivesCity hallBuffalo City HallBuffalo · USADated 1929–31 · SurvivesCity hallSan Francisco City HallSan Francisco · USADated 1913–15 · Survives