Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Masonic Temple at 1 N Broad Street in Philadelphia is the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. Completed in 1873, it stands across from City Hall and is one of the most striking 19th-century buildings in the city. It is still a working Masonic home, not just a monument.

The story behind it

Freemasonry is a brotherhood of men who aim to help one another become better people, guided by ideas such as brotherly love, charity and truth. Philadelphia has a long Masonic tradition, and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania needed a home to match it. The result was this large granite temple, finished in 1873 and designed by architect James H. Windrim.

Today the building still serves as the Grand Lodge's headquarters and as a meeting place for lodges from around the city. The land and building are held by a Masonic trust, so the temple has stayed in the hands of the people it was built for.

What to look for

• The heavy granite walls and round-arched openings give the building the look of a medieval fortress, in a style often called Norman Revival.
• Carved Masonic symbols around the entrance reward a slow look, including the familiar square and compasses.
• Cross to the far side of Broad Street to take in the whole facade, then turn around to see how it faces the grand bulk of City Hall.
• The sheer scale of the entrance and the stonework hints at the elaborate meeting halls inside, which is why many visitors want to see them.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes to see the outside and take photos. Inside visits are normally done on a guided tour, so check current tour availability before you go.
• Morning and late afternoon light is kind to the granite, and the sidewalks are quieter outside the weekday rush.
• City Hall is directly across the street, and Reading Terminal Market is a short walk away, so the temple fits easily into a wider stroll through Center City.
• Viewing the exterior is free and needs no planning, which makes it an easy stop between other sights.

See it on a quest

The temple is one stop on Ben Franklin's Murder Mystery Tour. - Philadelphia, a murder mystery you play on your phone as you walk. You reach the building on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of the facade. It is a good way to look closely at the stonework rather than just walk past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.