Adventure 051, Site 096 – Masonic Temple

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 096 – Masonic Temple

National Registry ID: 01000488

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 26, 2012

Location:

Latitude: N 38° 34.788

Longitude: W 121° 29.470

Address: 1131 J St, Sacramento, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1918

Architect: Rudolph Herold

As we were passing down J Street, we saw the Masonic Temple. As we took a picture, a person waiting for the bus asked if we were lost. Not really, just searching and explained about Capture California. As we were talking he mentioned---whether this is true or not—that the side of the building, with the mural is the third most photographed sight in Sacramento. There is a large mural which hangs down from the building. He said that this mural has been replaced several times, mostly due to weathering. But the last time was due to vandalism. Search as we might, we did not find the plaque for the National Historic Registry.



From the Sacramento Heritage Walking Tour guide:
Clad in brick and a unique bronze colored terra cotta, the Masonic Temple features 2-story tall leaded glasswindows on the second floor and unusual, sculptural decoration. Note the knights flanking the entrance andthe cherubs in the keystones over the arched windows of the first floor. This building was designed by Sacramento architect Rudolph Herold, who also designed City Hall and the Capitol National Bank. Constructed for the five Blue Lodges of the Masons, the building boasted the most modern heating and air conditioning equipment available in 1920.

From the National Registry of Historical Places:

The Masonic Temple in Sacramento is an unusual and handsome building, located on the northwest corner of J and 12th Streets, near the traditional center of downtown Sacramento. Constructed between 1918 and 1920, the building has retained an unusually high degree of integrity, on both the exterior and the interior. The five story, concrete building was constructed to house the activities of various Masonic lodges, and still currently performs that function.

A mural has been painted on the west wall that was exposed when an adjacent building was removed. The mural was added by the Downtown Association in about 1997 to commemorate the upcoming California state sesquicentennial.

The building also possesses a medieval quality that suits the Knight Templar figures guarding the entry, as well as the origins of the organization the building represents. The Temple is uniquely intact with its original Lodge rooms and elaborate ornament, functioning original Otis elevator, light fixtures designed specifically for the building, oak paneling and oak doors with inlaid wood, stained glass windows, hardware, marble-faced stairs and restrooms, cast bronze balustrades, highly unusual terra cotta design features, and grand auditorium space.

References:

• Wikipedia
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Waymark
  
• Sacramento Heritage Walking Tour
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)