Text & Photos: Julie Schwietert Collazo
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It would have never occurred to me to visit a Masonic lodge, hall, or temple had my brother not become a Mason a few years ago. When we met up in Washington, D.C. for a family vacation, he told us we had to see the House of the Temple of the Scottish Rite, as well as the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. We saw both.
He was in awe, hanging on the tour guides’ every word at each site. For him, the symbols and significance of the Masonic iconography have deep meaning. For us, they were simply beautiful places to visit.
I’ve since visited lodges, halls, and temples in various locations, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, and points in between (the photo below is of the Logia Aurora in Ponce, Puerto Rico).
Regardless of the location, there’s remarkable consistency from one lodge to the next in terms of the obvious care that is invested in maintaining these sites. And the majority I’ve visited are visually stunning and historically important examples of period architecture and design.
New York City’s Masonic Hall, located at 71 West 23rd Street, is no exception. Unlike the House of the Temple of the Scottish Rite, which spreads out horizontally, this urban Hall goes straight up; it’s located in a 17-story building. The people who scurry past on their way to or from work probably don’t know that behind the revolving door, there are several floors open to the public. Most visitors to New York probably don’t know either.
Unless they’re Masons, that is. As I signed the guest registry on my recent visit, I noticed that all of the previous entries on the two pages spread before me listed visitors’ names, cities of residence, and their lodges. “Do you have anyone in your family who’s a Mason?” my guide asked. I told him I did, but he assured me that it’s not necessary; anyone who wants to take the guided tour–which is free–can simply stop by the hall and they will be escorted through the Hall’s rooms.
The Hall was completely restored in 1986 under the direction of Felix Olimpo Chavez, a Peruvian designer, art historian, and founder of the firm Fine Art Decorating. In addition to restoring burnished chandeliers and revealing gargoyles and lions’ heads that were encased in years of dust and grime, Olimpo and his team transformed each of the Halls’ numerous rooms into faithful representations of the respective periods and iconography they were intended to represent. Old pipe organs and chandeliers are special highlights.
For people interested in architecture, design, and American history, the Masonic Hall is an excellent tour. Guides are friendly and eager to share the stories that the Hall holds with guests. Ask about Theodore Roosevelt’s induction into the Masons, the special lodge for artists and entertainers (it’s one of the few lodges that meets during the day), and about the unusual motifs painted on the ceiling of the Hollender Room.
DETAILS:
What: Free guided tour of the Masonic Hall.
Where: 71 West 23rd Street in Manhattan.
When: Tours are offered Monday-Saturday, from 10:30 AM until 2:15. No
appointment is needed; however, if you are part of a group and would like
to visit on a Sunday or a holiday, prior arrangements can be made by
emailing TourGuides@nymasons.org
Other: Cameras are permitted. The length of the tour seems to depend on your
guide. If you have any time constraints, let the guide know.
Website: http://www.nymasons.org/
Phone: 212-337-6602
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