Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
28 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
28 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
28 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Philadelphia Masonic Temple of Philadelphia

Masonic Temple of Philadelphia

Huge masonic hall in Philadelphia with lavishly themed rooms.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
Masonik Temple: Norman Hall   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Masonik Temple: Grand Staircase   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Masonik Temple: Oriental Hall   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Masonic Temple   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
Statues   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
detail of painted edging, thumbprints are of the painters as they weren’t masons   ebosma / Atlas Obscura User
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/curiousexpedi...
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
  michaelnhartman / Atlas Obscura User
The outside of the building   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
  MattJCasey / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia, or as it's properly known "The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction Thereunto Belonging," is an astonishingly lavish building. In 1873, the New York Times described it as "the largest, costliest, and most magnificent structure consecrated to Masonry in the World."

Freemasons are the subject of many conspiracy theories, and have been for as long as they have existed. Originally an actual type of trade union, the Freemasons have a somewhat unclear modern history. What is known is that, by the 1700s, the Masons had been taken over by aristocrats, noblemen, and politicians, who couldn't have built an actual building if their lives depended on it. The new Freemasons were one among a number of new clubs and movements which allowed members to talk freely about heretical ideas—including democracy and other Enlightenment philosophies.

In this context, it's unsurprising that both George Washington and Ben Franklin found themselves drawn to the organization, which, like any good club, also allowed for a great deal of networking. The Masonic movement in Philadelphia existed long before America was even founded (the "Modern Masons" of 1730 were later eclipsed by the "Ancient" Masons in 1761) and was likely a hotbed of revolutionary thought and planning.

Building was begun on Philadelphia's current massive Masonic temple in 1868, during the height of Masonic wealth and influence. With massive mounts of money to spend and extensive political influence in Philadelphia, the Masons held nothing back. Each room was decorated along a theme, in a highly ornate style. Besides a massively grand staircase, the temple contains an Egyptian room, a Corinthian room, a Moorish room, a Renaissance hall, a Norman hall in Rhenish Romanesque style, and the Ionic hall, with full-length portraits of "Right Worshipful Past Grand Masters," among others.

It is said that every room has had one mistake purposefully inserted into the architecture or decoration to show that no man is perfect compared to God.

Today, lacking the kinds of funds and influence they had in the 1800s, the Masons are struggling to pay for the upkeep of the massive building, and the halls can be rented out for weddings and other various non-Masonic functions.

Related Tags

Temples Freemasons Rites And Rituals Sacred Spaces

Community Contributors

Edited By

mbison, Jaszmina Szendrey, ebosma, Xavixavir...

  • mbison
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • ebosma
  • Xavixavir
  • MattJCasey
  • michaelnhartman

Published

July 4, 2010

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Masonic Temple of Philadelphia
One North Broad Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107
United States
39.953358, -75.163307
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Philadelphia City Hall

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wanamaker Building

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Places 75
Stories 40

Nearby Places

Philadelphia City Hall

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wanamaker Building

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Philadelphia

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Places 75
Stories 40

Related Stories and Lists

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

List

By Kavya Ram Mohan

Related Places

  • The temple.

    Nachikatsuura-chō, Japan

    Fudarakusan-ji

    A temple made famous by Japanese Buddhist monks who sacrificed themselves at sea.

  • Xiannongtan

    Beijing, China

    Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum / Xiannongtan (Temple of Agriculture)

    An ancient Chinese temple where even the emperor dressed like a farmer in the name of the harvest.

  • Hanging Temple

    Datong, China

    Hanging Temple of Hengshan

    A fifth-century temple improbably built into the side of a cliff.

  • Working People’s Cultural Palace

    Beijing, China

    Working People's Cultural Palace

    This smaller cousin of the Forbidden City has gone from ancestral sacrifice to tourist's whispers.

  • Ateshgah of Baku

    Baku, Azerbaijan

    Fire Temple of Baku

    A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

  • Rats of Karni Mata Temple

    Deshnok, India

    Karni Mata Temple

    Deep in the Thar desert, a temple crawling with thousands of holy rats.

  • Sera Monastery in Bylakuppe

    Bylakuppe, India

    Bylakuppe

    The world's largest Tibetan refugee settlement.

  • Janaki Mandir

    Janakpur, Nepal

    Janaki Mandir

    An enormous white temple that honors the birthplace of a Hindu goddess.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.