Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 3650 Eleventh Street in Riverside, this three-story brick lodge hall was designed by Los Angeles architect Franklin P. Burnham for the Masons. Its projecting portico, Ionic columns, pediment, and Greek-inspired Doric and Ionic detailing make it the city's finest Neo-Classical building, according to the nomination. The rusticated first floor acts as a base, and the windowless second floor held the lodge hall, where secrecy was maintained. The Masons chose the style to reflect their standing in the community, and a committee formed in 1905 recommended Burnham, who had also designed the County Courthouse directly across the street. The Temple was meant to harmonize with that courthouse. It was the first permanent home of the Evergreen Masonic Lodge, founded in 1897, and was linked to prominent civic and horticultural leaders. The lodge left in 1955, and Riverside County later bought the building. Alterations are limited to filled windows, a fire escape, and a modified front door.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest example of Neo-Classical style in Riverside, dating from before the Mission Revival vernacular took hold. It was designed to harmonize with the Beaux-Arts County Courthouse across the street. It was also the first permanent home of the Evergreen Masonic Lodge and is tied to many of the city's civic leaders.
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 80000832, listed June 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3650 11th St., Riverside |
|---|---|
| County | Riverside County |
| Listed | June 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000832 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 |
| Architect / builder | Franklin P. Burnham |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Riverside County and used for county offices since its 1973 purchase; the form lists it as occupied and excellent in condition, and correspondence mentions planned demolition for a parking lot. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.97869, -117.37588 (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 80000832.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6783757
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.