Building operations George Washington Masonic National Memorial

1 building operations

1.1 finances , organizational changes
1.2 renovations
1.3 new programs
1.4 crime @ memorial

building operations

the square , compasses, large masonic symbol built of concrete, added memorial in 1999.


finances , organizational changes

the george washington masonic national memorial masonic building supported 52 grand lodges of united states. 1983, memorial had 35 full-time staff , annual budget of $500,000. @ time, each person initiated freemasonry in united states paid one-time-only $5 fee deposited in memorial s building maintenance fund.

but despite income , endowment, memorial faced severe financial crisis in 1980s. significant decline in number of freemasons in united states led strong declines in donations memorial s maintenance , endowment funds. building needed significant repairs, making them left maintenance fund exhausted. first time in history, gwmnma considered taking out loan pay repairs , upkeep of memorial. financial crisis avoided when several grand lodges adopted per capita assessment on members keep memorial afloat, , gwmnma began series of fundraisers , sale of gifts generate additional income.

in 1993, make memorial more central part of cultural life of alexandria, memorial began renting out meeting rooms, assembly halls, , theaters private groups various kinds of functions. in 1994, memorial s operating budget $600,000. 2000, gwmnma s endowment had grown $12 million. revenues still inadequate. in 1920s , 1930s, many grand lodges had enacted per capita assessment on members provide general support gwmnma. 2003, one-quarter of grand lodges still did so. year, gwmnma began pushing grand lodges assess automatic per capita contribution again. program met success. despite growth, in 2004 endowment still half size needed be.

the gwmnma made organizational changes. between 1910 , 1951, association had had 3 presidents (shyrock, watres, , arn). gwmnma board of directors decided imposing term limits on office of president give board members chance become president , implement new ideas more frequently. in 2004, gwmnma amended constitution impose limit of 3 one-year terms on presidents of association. in 2008, number of presidential terms limit reduced further 2 one-year terms.

for calendar year 2008, gwmnma had 21 staff, total revenues of on $1 million, total expenses of $1.6 million, , total assets of $15.8 million. association s endowment, however, not robust had once been. $500,000 had been spent (primarily on building repairs), , losses due economic downturn significant (close $2.7 million). endowment had dropped $11.8 million @ end of 2007 $8.7 million @ end of 2008.

renovations

major changes have occurred memorial , nearby area since completed in 1970. king street metro station opened 3 blocks memorial in november 1983. storm windows on exterior of building replaced time, @ cost of $75,000. microwave transmission antennas added top of memorial in 1990 city of alexandria improve police radio transmissions in area.

for memorial s 60th anniversary in 1992, george washington museum exhibited special collection of washingtoniana. rhinestone past master s masonic jewel, owned martha washington , sold washington family @ time of death part of display. loaned museum desk in maryland statehouse on washington resigned commission in continental army @ end of american revolution. washington museum s collection recataloged @ time well. led historic discoveries. had long been known washington family bible had half-page of family torn out, recataloging discovered 1 of washington s descendants had ripped out go cornerstone of washington monument on july 4, 1848. map, hand-drawn washington show route british military expedition took ohio in 1790, turned in desk. uncovered book on use of artillery sent washington scotsman, , 1798 encyclopedia (the first printed in america) specially ordered washington. researchers uncovered print of washington s deathbed scene, , stub of candle carried freemasons in ceremony after death.

in 1999, george washington masonic national memorial branded first time masonic building. although twin sidewalks used run directly eastern slope of shooter s hill toward memorial s front steps, these partially replaced curving cement paths , large square , compasses (the masonic symbol) in landscaped setting. new symbol cost $250,000, , 70 feet (21 m) wide 60 feet (18 m) long. (it visible aircraft landing @ nearby ronald reagan washington national airport.)

a number of renovations , repairs made memorial in 1999 , 2000 well. tall cedars of lebanon paid cleaning , restoration of room on ninth floor time. ninth floor chapel suffered water damage in , mid-1990s, knights templar organization repaired , repainted space in 1999. @ same time, grotto began project refurbish murals , decorations in room, while researching , preparing later installation of new exhibits , displays. in fall of 1999, york rite organization installed exhibit in south hall on memorial s first floor explained rite s charities, degrees, , goals. scheduled completion in 2000 lawn sprinkler system on east side of hill, refurbishment of boilers , kitchen, installation of air conditioning in memorial theater , library, upgrades elevators, repairs , upgrades electrical system, upgrades make memorial more ada-compliant, removal hazardous materials (such asbestos), repaving of driveways , parking lots, waterproofing of portico , tower, , general refurbishment of interior. cost of these upgrades in excess of $500,000. same year, memorial hired staff begin major renovation of george washington museum , exhibits, , began major landscaping effort restore grounds original condition.

but despite these repairs, 2002 memorial still had $795,000 in deferred repairs. of larger , more costly projects needed included removal , resetting of granite front steps, purchase , installation of emergency generators, replacement of fresh water mains, installation of tuned mass damper prevent wind damage tower, installation of emergency lighting, , structural survey of memorial. in 2003, northern , southern jurisdictions of scottish rite of freemasonry agreed provide $200,000 fund renovation of george washington museum. renovations completed august 2003. in february 2004, renovations exhibits in 3 shriners rooms on first floor complete. fall of year, sidewalks on north side of memorial had been replaced, , in 2005 retaining walls around masonic symbol on east side built. aircraft warning lights installed atop memorial in 2006, , security lighting installed in parking lots. while welcome, these not major repairs gwmnma said needed make.

in anticipation of association s 100th anniversary in 2010, memorial underwent significant repair. gnwmma board of directors approved significant expenditure of funds make these changes. main assembly hall renamed grand masonic hall, , restored original condition. grand masonic hall enclosed glass , doors, permitting used conference center. air conditioning installed throughout building, elevators reaching first floor added, roof on second , third floors repaired, memorial made more handicap-accessible, main front granite steps removed , reset, , security , surveillance system installed. hallways around grand masonic hall on first floor repainted, new lighting installed, , new photo exhibit ( golden age of masonic architecture ) placed on walls. room containing historic replica of alexandria-washington lodge no. 22 meeting room renovated , updated, better display washingtoniana in room. new exhibit, form , function of american freemasonry, added first floor explain freemasonry , symbols represent. planned exhibit (intended grotto s third floor room) freemasonry s appendant bodies , history of memorial , relationship city of alexandria.

several new exhibits , permanent displays added memorial in 2010 well. on february 22, 2010, gwmnma unveiled new painting artist christopher erney depicting george washington freemason. memorial unveiled new temporary exhibit, freemasons white house stones. exhibit displayed stones had been marked masonic symbols of scottish workmen during construction of white house in 1790s. although stones permanently cemented place in fireplace in white house basement kitchen, others had been unearthed during structure s renovation 1949–1951. president truman sent each grand lodge , masonic body in u.s. 1 of these stones. new exhibit reassembled of these stones again in 1 location first time since 1951. new, permanent exhibit founders hall, featured busts of charles h. callahan, thomas j. shryock, louis h. watres, , elmer r. arn. gwmnma received $50,000 california grand lodge plant trees throughout grounds.

new programs

the gwmnma has voiced concern memorial seems isolated life of city around it, , association has worked improve relationship surrounding community. example, in february 1994, memorial held first open house. memorial opened public first time without need guide, , numerous objects , documents related washington alexandria-washington lodge no. 22 s private collection put on display.

the memorial opened grounds archeological digs in 1994. estimates of human occupation on shooter s hill go far 3,000 bc. shooter s hill had been occupied native americans, mansion (in 1830s , 1840s), log cabin, fort ellsworth, reservoir city s fresh water system, park outdoor dancing, , alexandria golf course among many others. alexandria city archeologists used ground-penetrating radar identify sites of interest on shooter s hill, including brick foundation wall. in dig s first 3 seasons, stone ax, pieces of ceramic pots, civil war ammunition, various kinds of colored glass, piece of jewelry shaped scarab, colonial-era mug imported england, native american spear points, silver-plated spoon, stoneware jar, , bisque heads of dolls manufactured in germany found. in 2002, memorial opened exhibit designed showcase of archeological evidence unearthed on memorial grounds.

crime @ memorial

the memorial has been target of criminal activity several times in history. first set of incidents occurred in 1960s. twice cox murals in second floor memorial hall vandalized. first time 1960, when cut 1 of murals , removed fist-sized portion of canvas. second time in march 1965, when 2 portions of mural cut out. vandals not caught, murals repaired. memorial s grounds have been vandalized numerous times. in 1960s , throughout 1970s, vandals uprooted trees, sawed tops off memorial s many evergreens (for use christmas trees), smashed windows stones, held drag races on lawns, , cut fences down use firewood. @ 1 point in 1973, vandalism severe security guards attack dogs had patrol grounds @ night.

the memorial has drawn unwanted attention potential terrorists. in april 2005, syed haris ahmed, naturalized american citizen , student @ georgia institute of technology, took videos of george washington masonic national memorial u.s. capitol, pentagon, headquarters of world bank, , other buildings , infrastructure in d.c. area. american law enforcement authorities later learned ahmed had shared video younes tsouli , aabid hussein khan (men later convicted of terrorism-related crimes in united kingdom). ahmed arrested in march 2006, , convicted in 2009.