George Washington Masonic National Memorial Is The Area's Latest National Historic Landmark

[mahatmakanejeeves]

George Washington Masonic National Memorial Is The Area's Latest National Historic Landmark

by Rachel Sadon in News on Aug 4, 2015 4:55 pm



Photo by Tim Evanson.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria is one of four new national historic landmarks, the National Park Service announced today.

"The George Washington Masonic National Memorial stands among the most architecturally significant projects to honor George Washington and one of the boldest private efforts to memorialize him," the National Park Service said in a statement today. "The Grand Lodges of the states and territories, which usually operate independently, joined forces to build this national memorial."

A groundbreaking ceremony took place in 1922 and the Memorial's cornerstone was dedicated in a Masonic ceremony the following year (President Calvin Coolidge, former President and Chief Justice William H. Taft and other dignitaries performed the ceremony before a crowd of thousands). President Herbert Hoover participated in the dedication of the memorial in 1932, but the interior wasn't completed until 1970.
....

First Peoples Buffalo Jump (in Cascade County, Montana), Lafayette Park (in Detroit), and Red Rocks Park and Mount Morrison Civilian Conservation Corps Camp (in Jefferson County, Colorado) were also added to the list of just over 2,500 national historic landmarks that have been designated since the program was established in 1935.

Here's a picture from 49 years ago that's a favorite of mine. From The C&’s Washington Subdivision:



C&O E8 #4000 at Alexandria Union Station on July, 21, 1966. The George Washington Masonic Temple is visible in the background. (from the collection of Joseph Testagrose, photographer unknown, used with permission)

[MisterP]

1. it's way more fun than the one on the Mall: there's even lectures on Mason-baiting conspiracies