The Grand (Baltimore, Maryland) facts for kids
The Grand is a famous building in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was built in 1866 by a group called the Freemasons. For over 130 years, this building was their main meeting place in Maryland. It was first known as the Grand Lodge of Maryland Masonic Temple.
The building was designed by Edmund G. Lind. It looks like a mix of French and Italian Renaissance styles. It has seven floors and is very large, about 90,000 square feet. Inside, there are ten main meeting rooms. One room, Edinburgh Hall, looks like the old Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. Another room is designed to look like an Egyptian temple. The building is beautiful with fancy plaster designs, a grand marble staircase, colorful stained glass windows, and sparkling chandeliers.
Contents
History of The Grand Building
Early Days and First Lodge
In 1822, the Freemasons opened their first Grand Lodge of Maryland. It was located on St. Paul Street in Baltimore. During the American Civil War, this building was used as a federal court. A very important judge, Roger Taney, worked there.
After the war, Baltimore's economy grew stronger. The city needed more space for its court. So, Baltimore bought the first Grand Lodge building from the Masons. This meant the Masons needed a new home.
Building the New Grand Lodge
The Freemasons started building their second Grand Lodge. This new building was on Charles Street. On November 20, 1866, they laid the first stone for the new building. This is the building we now call The Grand.
Fires and Repairs
Sadly, the inside of the building was badly damaged by a fire in 1890. Then, in 1900, another fire caused even more damage. This second fire destroyed the top floors.
Repairs were finished in 1909. A new architect, Joseph Evans Sperry, helped with the design. He added the sixth floor and attic. He also designed the beautiful decorations around the main entrance.
Moving and New Uses
For many years, the first floor of The Grand was used for shops. The Freemasons kept their main office there until 1994. After celebrating 200 years in Maryland, the Masons decided to move. They owned a large piece of land outside the city.
In 1993, they started building a new complex in Cockeysville, Maryland. Their new Grand Lodge was officially opened there in 1996.
Restoration and New Name
After the Masons moved, the owners of a nearby hotel bought The Grand in 1998. They loved its beauty and saw its potential. They wanted to fix it up and use it for meetings and events.
At first, city officials didn't know about the plans. They wanted to tear down the building for a parking garage. But the hotel owners worked with the city. They agreed to save the building and build a parking garage behind it.
Thanks to this agreement, the amazing restoration began. A team of experts worked to bring back the original look of the inside. After years of hard work, the building reopened in September 2005. It was then called Tremont Grand. The project fixed the outside and inside. It also added new elevators and connected the building to the hotel.
Nearly 140 years after it was first built, The Grand looked beautiful again. It remains an important part of Baltimore's history.
Later, the hotel changed its name to Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor. The building was then called Grand Historic Venue. In 2015, it was simply renamed The Grand.
See also
- The Grand para niños (in Spanish)
