The George Washington National Masonic Memorial (© Julie O'Connor, 2009)
The George Washington National Masonic Memorial stands atop Shutter’s Hill in Alexandria, Virginia. Built in three distinct tiers of increasing architectural complexity from bottom to top–Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian–the structure stands as a physical symbol of man’s intellectual ascent. Inspired by the ancient Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt, this soaring tower is capped by an Egyptian pyramid with a flamelike finial.
So, here we are, on Day Nine of Julie O’Connor’s Magical, Mystical, Masonic Photo Tour of Washington, DC. We have reached Chapter 78 of The Lost Symbol. Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon have just rushed from a taxi, dashed onto the map of Washington DC at Freedom Plaza, and then run into the Washington Metro, headed, they say, for Alexandria.
CIA agent Turner Simkins quite sensibly guesses that the pair are headed for the most famous Masonic destination in Alexandria, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial:
The statue of George Washington is 17 feet tall (© Julie O'Connor, 2009)
Inside the spectacular marble foyer sits a massive bronze of George Washington in full Masonic regalia, along with the actual trowel he used to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol building.
Unfortunately for agent Simkins, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial is a red herring, purposely suggested to throw the CIA off Langdon’s and Katherine’s trail. Which is a shame really because it could have made an incredible setting for Langdon and Katherine to explore. Here’s a view inside the memorial.
Inside the George Washington National Masonic Memorial (© Julie O'Connor, 2009)
And here’s a view of the Masonic symbol, the square and compass, cut into the memorial gardens.
View from the observation deck of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial (© Julie O'Connor, 2009)
Want to see more? Click here for previous stops on our Lost Symbol Photo Tour of Washington, DC.
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