National Register of Historic Places

Masonic Temple

Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Listed
February 11, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000748

About this property

The Masonic Temple is a historic commercial and fraternal society building at 415 Congress Street in downtown Portland, Maine. Built in 1911, to a design by local architect Frederick A. Tompson, it is one of the city's finest examples of Beaux Arts architecture, and houses some of the state's grandest interior spaces. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Portland Masonic Temple occupies a prominent position in the city's downtown, set between City Hall and the First Parish Church on the north side of Congress Street, the city's main commercial thoroughfare. Its construction saw the demolition of the Chase Hotel, the previous home and office of physician Edwin F. Vose, and several businesses. It is a brick and stone building, six stories in height, with a flat roof. Its main facade is divided into five sections, with four storefronts flanking a central two-story entrance. The entrance has wide paneled pilasters on either side, and a round-arch window at the second level. A beltcourse frieze with ornate decorate stonework separates the second and third levels. The middle three bays of the third through fifth floors are recessed, with flanking Corinthian pilasters and paired Corinthian columns on either side of the central bay. The Grand Lodge of Maine was established in 1820, although its oldest lodge was founded in 1762, with a charter signed by Paul Revere and others. This building has been the principal center of Masonic activity in the state since its construction in 1911. The Masons put the building up for sale in 2008, citing the high cost of its maintenance, but a deal to convert the building to condominiums fell through. They have now opened their spaces, which include some of the finest large spaces in the city, for event rental as a means to support its upkeep. National Register of Historic Places listings in Portland, Maine

Location

415 Congress St.
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
43.65887, -70.25776

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Masonic Temple

This page lists Masonic Temple. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Masonic Temple report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

First Parish Church
Industrial
0 mi
Chestnut Street Methodist Church
Early Republic
0 mi
Portland City Hall
Industrial
0.1 mi
Portland High School
Industrial
0.1 mi
Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Listed
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Raid on Falmouth (Casco, Maine) 1690
1690Colonial
0 mi

Questions about this property

When was Masonic Temple listed on the National Register?

Masonic Temple was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 11, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Masonic Temple?

Masonic Temple is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Masonic Temple?

The period of significance for Masonic Temple is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Masonic Temple?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Masonic Temple will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Cumberland County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Cumberland County.

Explore CumberlandCounty ›

More historic places in Maine

Browse all historic places in Maine.

View Mainehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maine history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Mainehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Masonic Temple will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report