Masonic Temple No facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Masonic Temple
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | 508 East Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | M. Leo Elliott |
| Architectural style | Mediterranean Revival with Beaux-arts detail |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002415 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1986 |
The Masonic Temple No. 25 is a special historic building in Tampa, Florida. It's located at 508 East Kennedy Boulevard. This building is where the Hillsborough Lodge No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons meets. The Masons are a very old and well-known social group.
The building was finished in 1927. It was designed by an architect named Brother Leo Elliott. He got his ideas for the building from three old cathedrals in Italy.
Building History
The first stone for this building was placed on June 18, 1928. This was done by Cary B. Fish, who was a very important leader of the Masons in Florida. The Lodge was built right in the middle of Downtown Tampa. It's on the corner of East Kennedy Boulevard and Morgan Street.
The first meeting in this new Temple happened on February 19, 1929. Many years later, on September 11, 1986, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Inside the Temple
The Masonic Temple is quite large and has many different rooms. It includes a big dining room and a kitchen. There are also offices for the leaders of the Lodge. The building has a library and a conference room for meetings. There's also a lounge area where members can relax.
The most important room is the Lodge room. It has a ceiling that is 40 feet high! This ceiling is hand-painted with beautiful designs. The Lodge room is big enough for up to 450 members and visitors. The first floor of the building also has three spaces that are rented out to businesses.
Famous Members
Over the years, many important people from Tampa have been members of this Lodge. Here are a few of them:
- Joseph Robles: He was a leader who helped defend Tampa from a Spanish invasion. This happened along what is now Bayshore Boulevard.
- Abe Maas: He was one of the main owners of a famous department store called Maas Brothers in Downtown Tampa.
- Vivian Gaither: She was a big leader in Tampa. A high school in Tampa, Gaither High School, is named after her.
Gallery
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Entrance to the Masonic Temple with a historic plaque
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Another view of the entrance to the Masonic Temple
