The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, located in Alexandria, Virginia is a Masonic structure and memorial dedicated to the United States’ first President and Father of the Nation. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2015.

As a descendant of an Anglican Minister, George Washington had long and deep connections with the Church of England, yet he was attracted by the Freemasons dedication to Enlightenment principles and teachings. Many of these ideas inspired not only Washington himself but also proved to be core principles for the foundation of this very country. Hence, local freemasons felt the need to memorialize Washington upon his death as a great mason.

Continuing with this ‘enlightened’ theme, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was inspired in its design by the ancient world marvel the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. The Masonic lodge of Fredricksburg, Virginia first proposed the idea of a masonic memorial to Washington as early as 1852. The first memorial was only a bronze statue of Washington, but was destroyed in 1865 during a skirmish in the Civil War. By 1909, new efforts were made for a new masonic memorial, this time at Shooter’s Hill. However this was put off due to a number of urban planning issues within Virginia.

The memorial was finally dedicated in 1932, 200 years after Washington’s birth with groundbreaking some 10 years earlier. It cost $6 million, which was rather exorbitant for the time, but was largely financed privately by the Freemasons order.

The building itself was designed in a neoclassical style with some sections reminiscent of Greek and Roman Revival styles, especially the various columns. There are nine floors in the building, with a Grand Masonic Hall on the first floor. There are many dioramas, al fresco paintings and other pieces on display through the memorial.

The second floor houses the Memorial Hall and includes a 17 foot bronze statue of the Founding Father. Floors three through nine are located in the tower, with each floor varying in size and design inspirations.

In 2010 the George Washington Masonic National Memorial underwent its most important repairs. A number of improvements were made to it, including the installation of air conditioning.

Many visitors will recognize the George Washington Masonic National Memorial from popular culture, especially in films like National Treasure: Book of Secrets and from the thriller novel The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a world-renowned repository of the artifacts and history of American Freemasons and their important connection to our first President. The Memorial is a timeless monument to the Man, the Mason, and Father of our Nation.