Philadelphia's Masonic Temple
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Philadelphia's Masonic Temple - by Management
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
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
av. transport time:0h 15m
est. visit time:1h 15m
MONDAY -
TUESDAY -
WEDNESDAY10:00 - 12:00
THURSDAY10:00 - 12:00
FRIDAY10:00 - 12:00
SATURDAY10:00 - 12:00
SUNDAY -
MONDAY -
TUESDAY -
WEDNESDAY13:00 - 16:00
THURSDAY13:00 - 16:00
FRIDAY13:00 - 16:00
SATURDAY13:00 - 16:00
SUNDAY -
Max total number:8
Max number of adults:2
Min.child age:5
Max.child age:17
Price for familyUS$35