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Philadelphia's Masonic Temple

1 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description

The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia was built in medieval Norman style at the end of the 19th century. It is the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Free and Accepted Masons - and also houses the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania. The interior was designed by George Herzog and took 15 years to be completed. It is possible to visit the building including several lodge rooms as part of guided tours (5 per day, 5 days a week) conducted by Free Masons.

Access & Transport

The temple is immediately north of Philadelphia City Hall, across John F Kennedy Blvd. There are plenty of public transport stations in the vicinity: City Hall (BSL), '15th St' (MFL), '13th St' tram station (10, 11, 13, 34, 36), 'Juniper St & Commerce St' bus stop (27, 31, 32) and 'Broad St & Arch St' bus stop (16). Parking is available at the Convention Center Parking Facility.

Instructions & Recommendations

The guided tour is the only way to see the elaborate interior. Self-guided tours are not an option

Meta review

Although online ratings diverge somewhat, the comments actually form a consistent picture. Potential visitors are advised not to expect a guided tour focused on the history and purpose of the masons, in fact the topic is not really broached, so one should do some basic research ahead of time to get a better experience and understand some of the jargon. The focus is instead completely on the interior architecture, ornamentation and use of the various meeting halls, the grand foyers and the ballroom. A few recurring mentions about the pace being too quick and the feeling of being herded.

Environmental & Social

No environmental data - we consider this neutral given the main use is not for visitors. Helps preserve the city's architecture

Conclusion

It is not every day one gets to tour such a Free Mason temple but, although you will learn about various ceremonies and be able to enjoy the rich deco (bordering on bling in our opinion), do not expect to learn more about Masonry as an organization. Nice but not a priority for a first-time visitor with 3 days or less in town.

Key positive

Some impressive deco and insights about Mason 'rituals'

Key negative

Slightly expensive considering the nature and duration of the tour

Suitability

The info we found online suggest the building is wheelchair accessible, but the website does not confirm this.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Tours start at 10h00, 11h00, 13h00, 14h00 and 15h00. Closed on public holidays

av. transport time:0h 15m

est. visit time:1h 15m

Regulated hours
Period 1

MONDAY -

TUESDAY -

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 12:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 12:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 12:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 12:00

SUNDAY -

Period 2

MONDAY -

TUESDAY -

WEDNESDAY13:00 - 16:00

THURSDAY13:00 - 16:00

FRIDAY13:00 - 16:00

SATURDAY13:00 - 16:00

SUNDAY -

Pricing
Advanced reservation required
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Group price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
US$10
10
Adult
12 - 64
US$15
10
Child
5 - 11
US$5
10
Infant
0 - 4
US$0
0
Free for Pennsylvania Mason and $10 for other Masons and students
Family price
Fixed price for families of up to 8 people

Max total number:8

Max number of adults:2

Min.child age:5

Max.child age:17

Price for familyUS$35

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