1940s George Washington Masonic National Memorial

the u.s. dept. of commerce donated equipment in 1942 have exterior of building , keystone light atop lit.

in february 1941, association reported first big fundraising season since memorial s dedication, receiving $100,000 in cash donations. in 1941, association raised additional $70,000, leaving total funds on hand of $225,000. now, total cost of completing structure had risen $6 million. gwmnma agreed spend $60,000 in 1942 in order finish south lodge room on second floor , dedicate blue lodge. sum cover cost of finishing room in southwest corner of second floor house alexandria-washington lodge s washingtoniana. 5 empty lots on shooter s hill purchased in 1942, large building not built next memorial. additionally, united states department of commerce provided, free of charge, equipment lighting building , tower aid aviation. association paid have equipment installed. in february 1942, representative sol bloom donated oil painting of washington in full masonic regalia memorial year well. bloom member of pacific lodge no. 233 in state of new york, , had served director of washington bicentennial commission. artist hattie elizabeth burdette painted picture in 1932. actor tefft johnson modeled portrait, posing in masonic apron , wearing same jewel washington himself had worn. chair in painting belonged washington, , pedestal , background cloth belonged alexandria-washington lodge. painting had been used advertise washington bicentennial, , bloom donated memorial in memory of wife (who had died in 1941).

the blue lodge room , alexandria-washington lodge replica room finished in late 1942. during following year, 1 of granite columns in memorial cracked , repaired.

work on interior did not begin in earnest until after war. not until may 1945 room dedicated ancient arabic order of nobles of mystic shrine (the shriners) on north side of first floor begun. placed in finished room original oil painting of shrine co-founder william j. florence (valued @ $5,000), copy of shrine s ritual in handwriting of co-founder walter m. fleming, collection of jewels, , other items. in time, shriners furnish 2 more rooms on ground floor @ total cost of $168,000. in 1946, association received major donation of $154,700 went maintenance fund (which had @ least $3 million generate enough funds keep structure maintained).

at gwmnma s annual meeting in february 1947, alexandria-washington lodge replica room dedicated. association voted allot 1 of rooms in unfinished tower mystic order of veiled prophets of enchanted realm (also known grotto ), had raised $25,000 finish room. supreme council, scottish rite (southern jurisdiction, usa) donated $100,000 finish north lodge room on second floor , dedicate cryptic masonry. prior donation, association unsure whether appendant bodies of freemasonry should allowed occupy rooms in memorial. southern jurisdiction s donation ended debate. encouraged many grand lodges (state organizations) of masonry make large donations memorial, bringing new life memorial s fund-raising efforts. association agreed expend funds build kitchen , dining room, hang bronze doors on first floor, , install bronze grillwork heating , ventilation system on first floor. 2 other major decisions made in 1947 well. long-time memorial architect harvey w. corbett presented plans completing memorial s interior, , sculptor bryant baker discussed plans life-size statue of george washington adorn memorial hall. order of demolay, young men s affiliate of freemasonry, had won association s approval campaign raise money bronze statue of george washington in 1934. baker proposed marble statue cost $50,000 $60,000 , stand on pedestal worth $7,000 $10,000. association began work on first elevator. otis elevator company awarded contract on october 23, 1947. designed fit southeast stairwell, company overcame 7.5 degree incline of stairwell putting wheels on 1 side of elevator car keep vertical. memorial s dining room completed @ end of 1947, , first use meeting of gwmnma in february 1948.

the grotto dedicated finished room (designed house archives) on third floor of building in february 1948. association, meanwhile, outfitted first floor auditorium handrails , bronze windowsills , hvac ventiliation grills. association made decision begin fund-raising number of other projects @ memorial. these included designing, manufacturing, , installing stained glass windows in second floor memorial hall; designing , painting murals on walls of memorial hall; finishing roof on auditorium , portico; installing marble on rough cement in interior stairwells; , replacing large wooden doors @ memorial s entrance bronze doors. same year, president harry s. truman presented memorial replica of great seal of united states 7 feet (2.1 m) in diameter , lit within. sign had topped of united states government printing office headquarters, had been damaged lightning. removed , listed scrap, freemason noticed sign in government warehouse , asked donated memorial. presentation ceremony set june 24, 1948. truman s arrival @ presentation delayed, had spent morning giving military orders begin berlin airlift.

by september 1949, memorial still near finished. none of tower rooms in floors 3 through 9 finished, although observation deck under construction. scottish rite agreed fund observation deck. observation deck accessible circular stairway. in late 1949, cryptic lodge room (also known north room ) finished , 2 elevators installed on north , south side of building. room contained seating 450 , organ (which used first time during room s dedication ceremony). avoid piercing second floor s memorial hall, elevators slanted inward @ 7.5 degrees. 61 feet (19 m) apart on first floor, 4.5 feet (1.4 m) apart @ observation deck. slanting elevators in world when installed, , motors them had passed through shafts in order them roof. other decorative changes made late 1949 well. woven persian carpet, largest in world , worth $1 million, donated memorial sarkis nahigian (a masonic member chicago). (it installed in alexandria-washington replica lodge room. had folded in order fit in room, caused wear on rug. rug removed after several years , reinstalled in memorial hall on second floor.) in memorial hall, 2 stained glass windows designed , manufactured robert m. metcalf being installed. bronze doors, grillwork, , window sashes had been installed throughout first floor, first floor assembly hall completed, kitchen , dining room finished, north , south corridors on first floor completed, , addition heating plant installed. hall of presidents finished. walkway on upper level of auditorium contained plaques depicting presidents of united states masons. shriners, too, completed rooms on first floor.

at point during 1949, bryan baker s sculpture of george washington changed marble bronze. statue , based both paid year.