On my Tuesday walk, the impressive Gothic structure below came into view a few blocks after I walked north on Meridian from Indianapolis' Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Curiously, I waited a day to investigate whether a tour of the interior was possible.
Photos by Retiring Guy
As my tour guide explained, most people assume the building is a church. Since its construction from 1927 to 1929, it has been the Indianpolis home of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
The Cathedral was built at a cost of $2,500,000. Today such a building would cost in the neighborhood of $37,000,000.
The original entry (below) was designed according to the specifications, as described in the Bible, of of the Sanctum Sanctorum of King Solomon's temple.
The reception hall.
Membership at Indianapolis' Scottish Rite Cathedral has dwindled to 6,000 from a peak of 40,000 -- and my tour guide offers a number of historical photos to back up this claim. In order to raise the necessary funds to maintain the facility, the Cathedral has been in the wedding reception, banquet, and prom business since 1995, and is now considered one of the city's premier special event venues.
The lounge, once upon a time. It is now a space used for banquets.
During its heyday, the Cathedral a brisk lunch business, as many of its members worked downtown.
The library.
The ballroom, a popular location for wedding receptions.
The 1,100-seat theater.
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