Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Built in 1919-1920 at the north end of downtown Fullerton, this Spanish Colonial Revival temple was the home of the city's Masonic lodges. Frank Benchley, a local builder and architect, designed the stucco-over-hollow-clay-tile building. It has a skirt roof, a pedimented portico with Batchelder tile, and a tall lodge room at the rear. The structure cost $115,000, and about a thousand people attended its dedication in December 1920. Inside are a large dining hall, a card room with a tiled fireplace, the lodge room with its ornate ceiling fixture, and a small stage used by the Knights Templar Commandery. Masonry was prestigious in Fullerton, and civic leaders helped bring the temple about. The building was the Masons' only meeting place from 1919 to 1945, and many groups used it until 1993, when declining membership and earthquake codes led them to leave. It is significant locally as a reminder of the fraternal organizations that shaped community life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the temple represents the height of Freemasonry in Fullerton and, for a time, in Orange County. It was the Masons' only meeting place from 1919 to 1945 and housed most Fullerton Masonic groups until 1993. It is cited under Criterion A in Social History as a reminder of the fraternal organizations that served the community in the twentieth century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000355, listed March 31, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 501 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | March 31, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Benchley, Frank |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Lodges stopped meeting there in 1993; the building has not been well maintained, was damaged by a fire in spring 1994, and is in the first stages of planned rehabilitation. The exterior retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.87419, -117.92448 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783723
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.