Philly’s Own ‘Temple of Doom’ Has Fossils in the Floors, Stars in the Ceiling, and an Egyptian Room

From the floor to the ceiling, this delightfully mysterious Masonic Temple has something to discover on every surface.

Portraits of Masons line the walls of the Masonic Temple in Center City. Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

By Stephanie Farr The Philadelphia Inquirer

As I entered the Masonic Temple in Center City and walked between two sphinx statues guarding the entryway staircase and over a royal purple carpet featuring Freemasonry’s iconic Square-and-Compasses symbol, I thought, “What’s next? A pyramid with the disembodied Eye of Providence floating on top?”