1950s George Washington Masonic National Memorial

one of murals in memorial hall, painted allyn cox in 1950s.

baker s 17-foot high (5.2 m) bronze statue of washington unveiled on february 22, 1950. president truman, past grand master of grand lodge of missouri, dedicated statue , delivered major foreign policy address @ unveiling. same year, muralist painter allyn cox hired paint murals throughout memorial depicting allegorical masonic events history scenes life of george washington. grand lodge of california donated funds these murals. cox designed 6 stained glass windows installation above murals, each depicting famous masonic patriot (such benjamin franklin , gilbert du motier, marquis de lafayette). windows executed , installed stained glass artist robert metcalf.

in 1951, general grand chapter of royal arch masons agreed fund completion of room on fifth floor , dedicate holy royal arch masonry. same year, 2 more metcalf windows installed in memorial hall, chimes installed on 10th floor, , ladder (acting staircase) placed provide access 10th floor ninth floor. water tank installed on fifth floor (to ensure high pressure) , plumbing extended eighth floor, , air conditioning placed in second floor south lodge room. spiral staircase added between third , ninth floors provide emergency exit. in 1951 grand lodge of pennsylvania sponsored completion of memorial s sixth-floor main library. outside memorial, northwest parking lot paved , 2 flagpoles placed outside main entrance.

work on memorial continued in 1952, although of work not finished until year later. ninth floor observation deck remained unfinished (although money had been donated enclose in suicide-proof iron cage), , 2 floors open public. sixth floor library dedicated on february 22, , later year allyn cox s sketches memorial hall murals approved. finally, second-floor auditorium nearing completion, memorial association authorized expenditure of funds moller organ co. begin design , construction of pipe organ space. 1953, however, observation deck finished , opened use, , second inclined elevator began installed. problems shaft, however, delayed completion. additional internal construction completed @ time. building plans had called 2 sets of stairs descend second floor s memorial hall first floor s assembly hall. these stairs had never been completed, however, , space had been used storage years. funds available build staircases. in order so, unfinished space beneath main portico turned storage room, , stairs installed. contractors resealed exterior of tower , second floor roof parapet prevent water leaking memorial. end of 1953, remaining stained glass windows in memorial hall installed.

in 1954, 42-rank moller organ installed in main auditorium. $50,000 organ had been donated grand lodge of new jersey in 1930. marble staircases between first , second floors completed, , fifth floor royal arch masonry room finished well. memorial association began reconsidering of plans. clear there no need states remembrance room on fourth floor, , eighth floor did not have enough space hold washingtoniana in possession of alexandria-washington lodge. association resolved make fourth floor washington museum, while leaving eighth floor open.

allyn cox s mural on south wall of memorial hall completed in 1955. although mural on ceiling of memorial hall had long been planned, association decided forgo this. in february 1955, theodor vogel, grand master of united grand lodges of germany, presented memorial association intricate wood carvings depicting 4 crowned martyrs (in case, claudius, castorius, nicostratus, , symphorian). carvings hung in memorial library. same year, knights templar asked assigned room moved seventh eighth floor. request granted, although left seventh floor unoccupied. throughout year, allyn cox continued work on murals in royal arch masonry room , on mural on north wall of memorial hall. @ end of year, north , south steps parking lots first floor completed. william , annetta childs of oklahoma donated electronic, automated carillon memorial, installed in tenth floor.

the following year, north side elevator completed. elevators freed need carry construction materials , workmen, tower opened public. number of exterior projects remained, however: granite facing upper terrace walls, bronze trim main doors, bronze lighting standards portico, granite facing lower terrace walls, , granite facing of auditorium. interior work needed. example, holes had been drilled in marble floor of memorial hall electric plugs installed lighting fixtures. unassigned seventh floor found sponsor well. year, grand central council of cryptic masonry agreed sponsor floor, , year s end had raised half funds necessary complete , furnish floor.

the royal arch room dedicated on april 20, 1957, vice president of united states richard nixon. 4 bays in room remained unfinished many years, however, , curtained off. same year, southern , northern jurisdictions of scottish rite dedicated george washington museum on memorial s fourth floor (although there no display cases or other furnishings permit washington museum open). day before easter (april 20), knights templar dedicated eighth floor chapel. @ year s end, second of allyn cox s murals memorial hall completed.

work on seventh-floor cryptic masonry room under way late 1957 , room dedicated on february 12, 1958. change made portico year. portico had been designed large bronze plaques installed on either side of main doors. fundraising these plaques had not gone well, leaving 2 gaping holes in marble walls. memorial association decided marble, rather bronze, plaques installed in these spaces. quotations george washington s masonic correspondence selected , inscribed on these marble plaques. additionally, bronze doors both sets of elevators installed (at cost of $18,000). @ end of year, memorial association spent more $108,000 finish granite facing of auditorium.

in 1959, large bronze bust of washington sculptor donald de lue (commissioned grand lodge of louisiana, , destined headquarters) donated museum. scottish rite offered finance completion of fourth floor s museum.