100th Anniversary of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial

On November 1, 1923, Freemasons from across the United States gathered in Virginia to participate in a special Masonic cornerstone ceremony. They assembled in the heart of Alexandria, a city located three miles south of Washington, D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River, and marched up to Alexandria’s highest point: Shuter’s Hill. There, in front of the visiting dignitaries and the public, including Presidents Calvin Coolidge and William H. Taft, the Masons laid the first stone of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. This remarkable moment in American Freemasonry came about through unprecedented cooperation between the state grand lodges and national appendant bodies.

The memorial is a stunning example of Neoclassical architecture, with a 333-foot tower that is visible from many points in Washington, D.C. In addition, the building houses a museum dedicated to George Washington and Freemasonry, as well as a research library, a concert hall, and a theater. In addition to its architectural and historical significance, the memorial serves as a tribute to the contributions of Freemasonry to American society.

To honor the occasion of its 100th Anniversary, Alexandria’s annual George Washington Day parade paid tribute to this historic landmark. This year’s Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee in concert with Memorial representatives adjusted the parade’s traditional route so that it finished in front of the Memorial to pay homage to the 1923 parade in which 10,000 Masons marched to the Memorial for its cornerstone dedication. The parade and accompanying festivities, which were held on February 20, 2023, had over 2,000 Masons in attendance, including representatives from the Grand Lodge of Hawaii F&AM.