About Us

Close-up view of the House of the Temple and the Sphinx of Wisdom Located in the heart of the nation’s capital in downtown Washington, D.C is the magnificent House of the Temple. It serves as the headquarters building of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. This building was completed in 1915 by architect John Russell Pope, who also designed the Jefferson Memorial, National Archives and National Gallery of Art. While it functions as an administrative building, the House of the Temple also showcases an interesting collection of artifacts, museum galleries and ceremonial spaces for Scottish Rite members. Since its inception, the House of the Temple has been open to the general public for tours.