The Temple of Detroit, the largest Masonic Temple in the world

Have you ever wondered which is the largest Masonic temple in the world ? Accustomed to the architectural gigantism of the Americans since the end of the 19th century, you'd probably think it was in the United States. And you'd be right. The largest Masonic temple in the world is in Detroit, Michigan. But before that, the largest Masonic temple in the world was already in the United States, in Chicago (Illinois) to be precise : it was 97 metres high and had 21 floors, but it was destroyed in 1939 when its interior installations proved obsolete. We invite you to discover the amazing building that is the Detroit Temple, currently the largest Masonic Temple in the world.

History of the Temple of Detroit

The Grand Lodge of Michigan used to have a temple on Lafayette Street in Detroit. However, the considerable development of Masonic activities, and in particular the various appendant bodies such as the Shriners (a paramasonic order recruiting members of the 32nd degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite), led the Freemasons of Michigan to decide in 1908 to construct a large multi-purpose building.

Land was purchased on Bagg Street (now Temple Street) in the Cass Corridor district. The project was entrusted to the architect Georges D. Mason (a predestined name !), who had built many churches in the neo-Gothic style. This was the style chosen for the Masonic Temple and a fundraising campaign was launched to raise the princely sum of $2.5 million (equivalent to almost $40 million today). The interior decoration was entrusted to a number of artists, most notably the Italian sculptor Corrado Parducci.

Work on the foundation began on Thanksgiving Day 1920 (the 4th Thursday in November, 25 November). The cornerstone was laid on 19 September 1922, using the same trowel with which George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol in 1793, and which had been used for the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia in 1868. The building was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day 1926, which also fell on 25 November that year.

Architecture of the Temple of Detroit

With its neo-Gothic exterior, the Temple of Detroit has 16 floors and reaches a height of 64 metres, with a 10-storey wing dedicated exclusively to the activities of the Shriners International. It has no fewer than 1037 different rooms, including seven Masonic temples in various styles (Egyptian, Renaissance, Gothic, Romanesque, etc.), a large temple for the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, a temple for the Royal Arch and another for the Commanderies of the Knights Templar, as well as a chapel that reproduces Westminster Abbey in miniature. 

There are also rooms for non-Masonic purposes, such as two ballrooms, a catering hall, a cafeteria, a huge 4,400-seat auditorium and three theatres. More surprisingly, there is also a sports hall, a sixteen-lane bowling alley, an office area and a shopping arcade.

A multi-purpose building

The Temple of Detroit is, of course, regularly open to the public for guided tours ($25 admission) and its facilities can be hired for weddings, corporate meetings, shows and concerts. This is also the case at the Philadelphia Temple, for example.

But more surprisingly for European Freemasons, you can just go shopping in the mall, play sports, go bowling or rent an office in this imposing building.

The Temple of Detroit is therefore fully integrated into the life of the city, and while the temples are strictly Masonic, the building itself is wide open to lay people, for the very ordinary activities of everyday life. A fine example of Freemasonry that is not inward looking, but participates in the life of everyone. The date on which the work began and the building was dedicated is significant : the Detroit Freemasons chose not a Masonic date (such as St John's Day) but Thanksgiving Day, a patriotic holiday close to the hearts of all Americans.

A visit is a must

If you're passing through Detroit, don't forget to visit the Masonic Temple. Of course, a guided tour is a must and is sure to be fascinating. But don't hesitate to wander around the mall, have a coffee in the cafeteria and, why not, go bowling or work up a sweat in the gym. You won't be able to do that in every Masonic temple !