In 1922, with the same trowel that George Washington used on construction of the US Capitol, George Mason and Company laid the first cornerstone of the Detroit Masonic Temple. It’s 1926 grand opening was celebrated with a Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert on Washington’s birthday (Feb 22) and the tradition of hosting spectacular musical events lives on today.

The Detroit Masonic Temple is the largest Masonic Temple in the world, one of America’s most impressive examples of Gothic architecture, and one of early America’s most impressive architectural feats. Even if you can’t catch a show, touring the temple is well worth your time: its soaring ceilings, intricate details, and secret passageways will leave you in awe.