The Masonic Temple of Philadelphia, located near City Hall, celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. The building’s 1873 time capsule and cornerstone greet you near the entrance. You do need to book a small-group tour (about 1-hour long) to see inside the building, unless you’re there for a wedding/special event. Our tour guide was excellent, concisely answering everyone’s questions. The guide expertly sidestepped our questions about Mason beliefs, practices and the absence of female Masons. There are interpretive signs by the entrance that briefly address basic questions about Masons.
We were impressed with the majesty and illustrious history of the Masonic Temple. The guide revealed that 15 U.S. presidents (from Washington to Truman) were Masons, some of whom met in this building. There is a separate hall dedicated to Ben Franklin, as well as multiple sculptures and paintings throughout that celebrate Franklin’s contributions as a Mason .
Each hall lavishly represents a different architectural style, such as Ionic, Romanesque, Greek or Egyptian. The artifacts in the main floor exhibit cases were helpful in explaining aspects of their beliefs. A highlight was seeing Thomas Jefferson’s adorned Masonic apron on display. The Masonic Temple is close to City Hall and Love Park if you’re planning a Philly history tour.