{"nrhp_refnum":"96000068","name":"Scottish Rite Cathedral","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"308 Ave. E","address_restricted":false,"city":"San Antonio","county":"Bexar County","state":"TX","lat":29.427713036000057,"lon":-98.48730019999994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1996-02-16","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Classical Revival masonry Masonic temple at 308 Avenue E on the edge of downtown San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, built in 1924 and designed by architects Herbert M. Greene and Ralph H. Cameron.","why_significant":"The nomination calls it one of the most successful Classical Revival buildings in San Antonio and the largest, most extravagant Masonic temple in Texas. It is an exceptional example of the work of Greene, Cameron and sculptor Pompeo Coppini. It has been the hub of Scottish Rite and York Rite Masonry in San Antonio and South Texas since 1924.","narrative":"Completed in 1924 on Avenue E at the edge of San Antonio's downtown, this Classical Revival Masonic temple rises 5 1/2 stories at its highest point. Its stone walls carry terra cotta ornament, and a colonnade of eight Corinthian columns marks the main facade. The massive bronze entry doors, sculpted by Pompeo Coppini, include more than 50 figures. Inside are a marble Grand Hall, a 2,200-seat auditorium with a large Moller pipe organ, a lodge room and a basement banquet hall. Herbert M. Greene prepared the plans, while Ralph H. Cameron supervised construction and contributed much of the interior design. The building is described as the largest and most extravagant Masonic temple in Texas and has served as the center of Scottish Rite and York Rite Masonry in San Antonio and South Texas. It was recognized for its architecture at the state level and for its role in social history at the local level. Several Masonic bodies still meet there, and it is also used for performances.","period_of_significance":"1924-1945","architect_builder":"Greene, Herbert M.; Cameron, Ralph H.","architectural_style":"Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still used as a meeting hall and auditorium, and also as a performing arts venue, library and museum; exterior remains as originally built.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:24.167611-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/8/9713/40971308/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/96000068.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/96000068/89c9931017-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/96000068/89c9931017-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Leonard Pierce","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scottishritefront.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Leonard Pierce</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scottishritefront.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40971308","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Rite_Cathedral_(San_Antonio,_Texas)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7437954"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/bexar-county/scottish-rite-cathedral-96000068/"}