Masonic Temple (Grand Canyon) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Masonic Temple
South aspect (Dutton Point upper left)
Highest point
Elevation	6,242 ft (1,903 m)
Prominence	62 ft (19 m)
Isolation	2.58 mi (4.15 km)
Parent peak	Holy Grail Temple (6,711 ft)
Geography
Masonic Temple Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona Masonic Temple Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US
Parent range	Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau
Topo map	USGS King Arthur Castle
Type of rock	sandstone, limestone, shale
Climbing
First ascent	Alan Doty
Easiest route	class 4 climbing

Masonic Temple is a 6,242-foot-elevation (1,903 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, USA. Set below Dutton Point on the Powell Plateau, and overlooking the Shinumo Amphitheater, it is situated three miles west of Holy Grail Temple, 2.7 miles northwest of Dox Castle, and 1.6 miles north-northeast of Fan Island. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) above the Colorado River in four miles (6.4 km). According to the Köppen climate classification system, Masonic Temple is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining south to the Colorado River via Hakatai Canyon from the west aspect, Burro Canyon from the south aspect, and Muav Canyon from the east aspect. This butte is an erosional remnant composed of strata of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group overlaying the conspicuous cliffs of Mississippian Redwall Limestone, in turn overlaying the Cambrian Tonto Group.

Etymolgy

Masonic Temple was named by George Wharton James as a tribute to the Order of Freemasons, an organization to which he belonged. To James, the immense angular walls below Dutton Point seemed to form a square, and the freemasonry expression "on the square" suggested to him the name. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1908 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

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