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George Washington Masonic National Memorial

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George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria

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The george washington masonic national memorial.

• 101 Callahan Drive Alexandria, Virginia
• (703) 683-2007

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is a memorial and museum, an active Masonic temple, a research library, a cultural space, a community and performing arts center, and an important regional landmark.

This magnificent nine-story neoclassical structure has been erected and maintained by the Freemasons of the United States as an expression of the high esteem in which the memory of George Washington is held within the Masonic fraternity, and to preserve the history and heritage of American Freemasonry.

In 2015, the National Park Service named the Memorial a National Historic Landmark , in recognition that it is “the only major unified, fully national initiative of the Freemasons and among the boldest attempts by a private organization to memorialize George Washington.”

The Memorial is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed on major holidays). Admission to the Memorial is $18. Children aged 12 and under are admitted to the Memorial for free, and must be accompanied by an adult. Five tours run daily at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. The guided tour is one hour in length and includes five or more areas of the Memorial, including several exhibit rooms and the Observation Deck which offers an extraordinary view of the city.

To learn more about the Memorial’s tour, see: https://gwmemorial.org/pages/tours

Advance reservation is required for parties of ten or more: https://gwmemorial.org/pages/group-reservation-form

Access to the Observation Deck is also included in Alexandria’s Key to the City Attractions Pass – a $60 value for only $20.

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The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Foundation

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The George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia is a national center of Freemasonry and a uniquely designed Freemason structure that combines Neo-Classical and skyscraper architectural features. The Masonic National Memorial is one of the most expensive and monumental private efforts to memorialize the nation’s first President and represents a rare nationwide cooperation of Freemason lodges. Originally intended as a museum to house important artifacts commemorating the life of George Washington, the building of the Memorial began in 1922, but was not officially completed and opened to the public until 1970. Now one of the most grand and recognizable buildings in the Washington area skyline, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was designated as a National Historic Monument in 2015. 

Freemasonry is a political and social organization that traces its origins to Medieval British labor collectives of skilled craftsmen called trade guilds. In the 18th century, stone mason guild meetings became Enlightenment-era salons where middle-class tradesmen could exchange ideas on contemporary society and politics. These socially concious guilds formed the earliest Freemason groups in the British Isles and dedicated themselves to upholding the principles of personal liberty and freedom of thought. During the late 1700s, Freemasonry societies became popular among the political and military leaders of the Revolutionary forces in the American colonies, including George Washington.  Washington began his life as a Freemason in 1752 at the age of twenty when he was admitted into a small Freemason Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia. For the rest of his military and political career, Washington was an active member of Freemason social circles and established Alexandria’s Freemason Lodge No. 22 in 1788. Upon Washington’s death, Lodge No. 22 was granted many of Washington’s personal belongings, artifacts referred to as Washingtonia, including those related to his term as the Lodge’s first Grand Master.  

In the mid-19th century, Washington’s personal life and career became topics of renewed public and academic interest. Locations important in Washington’s life, such as Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg and Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, became the focus of intensive preservation efforts. With increased membership during the Progressive Era, Freemason groups across the nation began highlighting their organization’s role in shaping the United States through Freemasons like Washington. In 1910, Freemason leaders from across the nation convened in Washington D.C. to discuss financing a grand monument and museum dedicated to George Washington. Out of this conference, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association was formed which began raising money for the construction of a Washington-dedicated monument and park on Shooter’s Hill in eastern Alexandria, Virginia. 

The Association hired famed New York skyscraper architect Harvey Wiley Corbett to design the Memorial and the surrounding grounds. Within weeks of being hired, Corbett drafted a design model of the Memorial as a modern-day reimagining of an ancient Mediterranean lighthouse featuring both Neoclassical and modern skyscraper architectural elements. The design plan for the Memorial called for a raised columnated portico of New Hampshire granite at the base of the structure and a four-tiered stone and steel tower rising from its center. Corbett’s final skyscraper design was enthusiastically approved by the Freemason Grandmasters of the Memorial Association and ground was officially broken on June 5, 1922 during a ceremony attended by President Calvin Coolidge. As costs for the construction mounted in the next decade, the Freemasons refused to borrow money for construction and instead adopted a slow, but fiscally responsible approach to financing based on Lodge donations. 

While construction took place over several periods throughout the 1920’s, the exterior of the Memorial was finally completed in February of 1931. As a result of the economic pressures of the Great Depression, construction on the Memorial’s interior was slowed. Over the next four decades, various architectural firms and artists would work to complete the Memorial’s interior museum space and Freemason meeting chambers. Some of the most iconic art pieces displayed by the Memorial include a seventeen-foot-tall bronze statue of Washington designed by Bryant Baker and artist Allyn Cox’s murals depicting episodes from Washington’s life in the Memorial Hall. 

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is truly a unique landmark as it represents a rare occasion of nationwide cooperation among American Freemasons to build a monumental landmark to George Washington that enshrines his role as a lifelong Freemason. Among the many memorials and monuments to the life of the nation’s first President in and around the District of Columbia, the Masonic National Memorial uniquely highlights George Washington’s moralistic principles and personal beliefs. Therefore, the Memorial serves as a visual metaphor for Freemasonry’s role in shaping the life and career of George Washington and the United States of America.  

Bullock, Steven C.   1996, Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC 

George Washington’s Mount Vernon  The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Mount Vernon Association,  https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/freemasonry/the-george-washington-masonic-national-memorial/ , retrieved 5/26/2020  Elliot, Paul and Stephen Daniels 2006, The 'School of True, Useful and Universal Science'? Freemasonry, Natural Philosophy and Scientific Culture in Eighteenth-Century England, The British Journal for the History of Science, Vol. 39, No. 2

National Park Service   2015, George Washington Masonic National Memorial- National Historic Landmark Nomination Form, National Park Service, Department of the Interior 

National Park Service  2015, George Washington Masonic National Memorial, National Historic Landmarks Program, National Park System Advisory Board for Historic Preservatio 

Mitnick, Barbara J. et al.  1999, George Washington: American Symbol, Hudson Hills Press, NY, Museum at Stony Brook and the Museum of Our National Heritage   

National Historic Landmarks (NHLs)  are historic places that possess exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States. The National Park Service’s National Historic Landmarks Program oversees the designation of such sites. There are just over 2,500 National Historic Landmarks. All NHLs are also listed in the  National Register of Historic Places.   

About Shooter's Hill

The memorial sits upon Shooter's Hill (also known at Shuter's Hill). During the War of 1812, with Alexandria under British control in August 1814, top-ranking U.S. military men gathered at this high point above the city. President Madison conferred with Secretary of the Navy William Jones, Brigadier General John Hungerford, and U.S. Navy Captain David Porter, Jr. The men decided to harass the British ships as they withdrew down the Potomac.

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Last updated: February 18, 2021

Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC.

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Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.

Need primary and secondary sources, videos, or interactives? Explore our Education Pages!

The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.

The George Washington Masonic National Memorial

Located in Alexandria, Virginia, this impressive landmark was constructed as a memorial to the nation's most celebrated Mason, George Washington.

Freemasonry

In the span of those 47 years, Washington would fight beside Freemasons in the Revolutionary War and select the organization to set the cornerstone of the United States Capitol. Washington stated that Freemasonry was "founded on benevolence and to be exercised for the good of mankind."

Even during his lifetime, leaders of the Freemasonry movement in America clearly promoted that George Washington was their most exalted of members, and someone whom others should emulate. Throughout the 19th century, as the number of Freemasons swelled across the nation, their exaltation of Washington never wavered-- in some circles, it grew even stronger.

Creating a "Suitable Memorial Temple"

In 1907, Grand Masters and other prominent Freemasons from around the country met in Alexandra-Washington Lodge No. 22 and established the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.

The Association had a lofty and straightforward goal: "To erect and maintain in the City of Alexandria, Virginia, a suitable memorial temple to George Washington, the Mason; one which will express in durability and beauty the undying esteem of the Freemasons of the United States for him, in whose memory it shall stand throughout the coming years."

Although securing funding to support the project would prove to be a daunting challenge, moral support for the Memorial came from the nation's highest ranks. At one of the organization's early meetings, President William H. Taft, also a Freemason, said:

Brethren, every President of the United States feels heavy upon him the burden of following George Washington and being in his place and making himself in some slight way worthy of the First President, the Father of His Country ... No honor can be greater than to have a direct association with that great man, how, in every sense, was the founder of this Republic and who exhibited, as President, as man, and as Mason, all the principles of morality, of patriotism and of religion that we like to think is our highest ideal.

Seeking to create a national rather than a regional tribute to George Washington, the Masonic Association thought big, they recognized that the structure would be an impressive physical landmark, towering over Old Town Alexandria, offering a perfect spot from which to view the Washington Monument in the District of Columbia.

The structure was also built to provide an impressive and secure home to a number of treasured Washington artifacts, which were given to the Alexandria -Washington Lodge No. 22 by family and friends of the first president of the United States, as well as the Charter Master of the Lodge.

At the time, Lodge No. 22 was headquartered in a modest building in Old Town Alexandria, which was inadequate for both the storage and the display of artifacts. The problem became all too real in 1871, when a fire in the Lodge destroyed a portion of the Washington material.

It took a number of years for a grand plan for a national memorial to George Washington to develop, and the men in Lodge No. 22 admitted they might need the assistance of Freemasons from coast to coast to do justice to a Washington Memorial. A turning point came in 1909, when Charles H. Callahan, who served as commissioner of Revenue for the City of Alexandria for a memorable 46 years, purchased several lots, strategically located on a hill, for the sole purpose of constructing a fireproof building. As an officer in Lodge No. 22, he also used his contacts to garner the support of the Grand Master of Virginia, who, in turn, contacted his fellow Grand Masters in every state. Within months, the movement to build the memorial had gained national prominence.

From the collections

Masonic Objects in the Mount Vernon Collection

Explore a variety of fascinating objects related to George Washington and Freemasony in our interactive museum collection.

Visit the Memorial

Tours of the George Washington Masonic Memorial are available to the public, and many Washington enthusiasts consider it to be a "hidden gem" among tourist attractions around the capital city.

Preservation

Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

Learn more about the first national historic preservation organization who have worked to preserve Washington's home for over 150 years.

Building the "Lighthouse of Freemasonry"

This 1922 photograph Corbett's model of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial shows clear differences in the design of the tower and landscaping from the final building (Wikimedia)

New York City architect Harvey Wiley Corbett, who later became famous for designing much of Rockefeller Center, was enlisted to create plans for the memorial.

After taking a tour of the site, Corbett quickly developed a crude sketch of what he had in mind-- a colossal "lighthouse of Freemasonry dedicated to Washington."  It took only weeks to move forward with a formal design, which the board officially approved in 1921.

On June 5, 1922, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. Tons of earth were moved to create a gracious, park-like environment around the Memorial, and trainloads of granite were ordered from New Hampshire. Bills began to pour in, but the Freemasons refrained from borrowing money. This policy set a slow, steady and fiscally responsible "pay as you go" approach to the entire project.

President and Mrs. Coolidge at the laying of the cornerstone of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Library of Congress)

President Calvin Coolidge, with the help of a trowel once used by George Washington, laid the official cornerstone in November 1923, and once construction began, even the effects of the Great Depression failed to bring work to a halt.

In the year celebrating the bicentennial of George Washington's birth, 1932, President Herbert Hoover dedicated the yet-to-be-finished Memorial.

Modern Interpretation of Washington and Freemasonry

Bronze Statue of George Washington in the Main Hall of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (Ron Cogswell)

After World War II, Freemasons poured their energy into the building's interior, and educating the public on Freemasonry and the life of brother George Washington.

Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 opened a replica Lodge room to display original Washington artifacts. In 1950, President Harry S. Truman, who was also a past Grand Master of Missouri, dedicated the massive 17-foot bronze statue of George Washington that greets people when they enter the Memorial.

Specially-designed elevators, which move horizontally as they move vertically, were installed a few years later. This enabled the upper spaces in the Memorial to include tributes to a variety of Masonic organizations. A handsome and informative museum devoted to the life of George Washington was opened on the fourth floor in 1966.

By 1970, the Memorial was for practical purposes completed. But like any successful museum, the Memorial continues to change and grow as old displays give way to give new ones, and a greater focus is given to educational programs.

The memorial theater, one of the most desirable performance spaces in Old Town Alexandria, is frequently booked for an incredibly diverse array of programs, including seminars on Washington, as well as comedy shows that echo laughter throughout the century-old halls.

But the principal focus of the Memorial remains the same­: George Washington as the foremost Freemason. Through on-site conferences, special outreach programs, and partnerships with the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, the Memorial has taken a much more aggressive stance in recent years, hoping to reach out to those who know little about George Washington, and next to nothing about Freemasonry.

The most frequent reminder of the special link between George Washington's Mount Vernon and Freemasons occurs twice each year, on the anniversaries of George Washington's birth and death. For more than a century, nearly a dozen Masonic groups have organized formal wreathlayings at Washington's Tomb, before the estate is open to the public, when a feeling of tranquility and authenticity overwhelms the grounds. In February and December temperatures at 8 o'clock in the morning are typically below the freezing point, yet the Masons are as dependable and hardy as the man they honor.

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George Washington Masonic Memorial

Click   here  for a detailed seating chart of the George Washington Masonic Memorial. (Note: this chart is for reference only and does not reflect current seating availability)

Click here to take a virtual tour of the George Washington Masonic Memorial

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Five Spots to Explore at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria

Built from 1922 to 1932 to honor George Washington, a Freemason at the age of 20 in 1752, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial overlooks Alexandria, Virginia high atop Shooter Hill. The nine story Memorial is 333 feet tall, just 100 feet shorter than the Washington Memorial in nearby Washington.  It is the home to a museum, active Masonic temple, research library, and performing arts auditorium. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2015.

At the peak of membership in the 20th century, there were over three million Freemasons in the United States, and membership includes 14 US Presidents and other prominent figures. Guided, one hour tours tell the history of the brotherhood of Freemasons, who seek to positively contribute to their communities.

Travel Tips:

• The Memorial is open seven days a week all year, except for major holidays; guided tours are offered five times a day. Children ages 12 and under receive free admission; information here . Visiting the Observation Deck of the Memorial is part of Alexandria’s Keys to the City pass; more info here .
• The Memorial is handicap accessible with elevators and ramps.
• Plenty of free parking (a 200 car lot) is located to the right of the memorial. Visitors should climb the stairs and enter through the front. The handicap accessible entrance is the main exit (located to the right, near the parking lot). Information on public transportation can be found here . 
• A small gift shop and restrooms are located on the lower level near the exit to the parking lot.
• Plan on one hour for the tour, more when visiting the Observation Deck of the Memorial.

Five Can’t Miss Spots on the Tour:

1. Memorial Hall is the start of the tour, with the massive portico centering around a 1950 statue of George Washington, dressed in Masonic regalia, created by Brother Bryant Baker. There are eight granite columns standing 40 feet tall, and behind them are two murals that depict Washington and his officers attending a St. John’s Day observance in 1778 on one side, and Washington laying the cornerstone of the US Capitol in 1793. 

2. The Replica Lodge Room is a model of the original, local Alexandria-Washington Lodge No.22 from the early 1800s. On display are original lodge furniture, a 1794 Williams Joseph Williams portrait of Washington, and artifacts such as masonic tools, a replica Watson-Cossoul apron, and china.

3. The South Lodge Room ,  the current home of the Alexandria- Washington Lodge No. 22, and the North Lodge,  and includes many paintings and portraits of past Masters of the Lodge.  The South Lodge Room has a neoclassical style and the North Lodge has a Gothic Style and has the most recent additions to the Memorial’s collection.

4. The Keystone State Auditorium is an impressive 400 seat theater used for a variety of public and private performances, lectures, and presentations. There are 14 bronze plaques of former Presidents of the United States who were Freemasons on display throughout the mezzanine level. 

5. The Form and Function of American Freemasonry exhibit is a chronological display of Freemasonry’s history, with fun trivia about former presidents and well known 20th century Americans who were Freemasons. The hallway leading to the museum exhibit is lined with drawings of some of dozens of masonic buildings in the United States (look for your state’s building). Pause in the Grand Masonic Hall (often used for social events) to look at the bronze casting replica of the 1791 statue of George Washington.

There were a few areas of the Memorial we could not visit due to the pandemic, but we want to mention them here for future visitors and virtual tours:

• The Family of Freemasonry Exhibit features related organizations, such as The Order of the Eastern Sta r and Youth Order . 
• The George Washington Museum features background on President Washington and numerous artifacts from nearby Mount Vernon and the building of the Memorial.
• The Knight Templar Chapel , located on the 8th level and dedicated in 1957, features four stained glass windows.
• The Observation Deck on the 9th floor features 360 degree views of Alexandria and Washington DC and indoor photography exhibit of the construction of the Memorial.

While on the tour, have kids keep an eye out for the following:

• “Masonic paving”, the checkered pattern on the flooring (rugs and tile), symbolic of the dualities of life.
• The single “Eye of Providence”, symbolic of God watching over society
• “Rough and perfect ashlers” displayed at the base of the position for the 
• The religious book, square, and compass; the most important tools of the Freemasons
• The letter “G”, dual symbolism for both “God” and “geometry”

Looking for more nearby fun? Check out our posts on Mount Vernon here and Washington DC here , and follow along on our adventures on Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Pinterest .

Disclaimer: We were given a media pass to visit the Memorial; all opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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I havent seen this museum and I know there’s so much to explore. Thank you for the tips 🙂

Well done! Interesting to find the relationship between God and Geometry. I know they have had a philanthropic reputation as well.

This is such an interesting place! Also, a great way to teach history to kids!

We will have to plan for this the next time we visit.

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100 Years: Alexandria Celebrates George Washington Masonic National Memorial (PHOTOS)

On February 22, 1910, Masonic leaders gathered in Alexandria to formalize an association that would conceptualize, build and maintain “a suitable memorial temple to honor George Washington, the Mason” according to Shawn Eyer, Director of Education at the Memorial. According to the Memorial’s website, “The site was selected because it followed the ancient tradition for the location of temples on hilltops or mountains. It was also located on the land with which George Washington was familiar, as he spent a great deal of time in Alexandria and its environs.”

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• A Freemason Tour Of Washington...

A Freemason Tour of Washington, D.C.

Freemasonry has a long history in Washington, DC. This once feared and even hated secret society is a source of mystery for many. If you are curious about learning more, Washington DC is a great place to do it.

History in dc.

Local Masons consider themselves to have a strong bond to the Washington, DC area and to the history of the entire Republic, given that many of the Founding Fathers were Masons. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and many Revolutionary War generals were all known to be Masons.

It’s widely believed that the Masonic influence here is apparent in the configuration of the city, as well as the shape of the Washington Monument, eastern orientation of the Capitol, and in other buildings and architectural structures around the area. The architects who designed the White House, the Capitol , and the Washington Monument—James Hoban, Benjamin Latrobe, and Robert Mills, respectively—were all Masons.

There are currently 36 lodges in the area of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, along with the big House of the Temple of the Scottish Rite on 16th Street, and the stately George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria.

The House of the Temple

Washington, DC has served as the headquarters of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for many years now. The House of the Temple, the location of the headquarters, is an impressive building just north of the White House, on 16th Street. It’s been the headquarters since 1915

A couple of sphinxes on huge pedestals flank the steps. Once inside, the center of the room has a large altar that’s used to represent God’s revelation to man during a Masonic meeting. Freemasonry, while not a religion, has rites that are related to those of a religion. The members generally agree that people of different religions can agree on the existence of God. If you want to learn more, visit, or do a tour of the property .

George Washington Masonic National Memorial

The next most obvious Masonic sight in the Washington area is the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia, just a short ride from downtown DC. The memorial is dedicated to prominent mason and first President George Washington, celebrating him and American Freemasonry, in addition to serving as a lodge and meeting space.

The tower is said to be precisely 333 feet tall, and is supposedly meant to be parallel to and resemble the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. The building consists of nine floors, which are dedicated to Washington, the history of Freemasonry, rites and rituals, and additional related bodies. The main hall features a large statue of George Washington in Masonic regalia, housed within Egyptian temple-style architecture.

The first and second floors are freely open to the public, and hourly docent-led tours of the upper floors are available. The Memorial Hall and the Memorial Theater served as filming locations for the movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets .

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AZ - Truth Be Told Tour 2024 (Cleveland) | The Asylum at Masonic Temple

The highly-anticipated AZ - Truth Be Told Tour is scheduled to take place at The Asylum at Masonic Temple on July 18, 2024. This event promises to be a memorable night filled with incredible music and electrifying performances. The concert will kick off at 3615 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44115, where attendees can expect to be dazzled by a lineup of chart-topping hits. With tickets set to go on sale from April 18, 2024, at 14:00 until July 19, 2024, at 02:00, fans are urged to secure their seats early to avoid missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Don't miss the chance to witness AZ in all their glory as they take the stage and deliver a show that will leave you wanting more. Mark your calendars and get ready to be blown away at the AZ - Truth Be Told Tour.

Provided by Whirlycookie | Published Apr 26, 2024

Are you interested in AZ - Truth Be Told Tour 2024 (Cleveland)?

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Guided Tours at the Masonic Temple

Tours of the historic, spectacular Detroit Masonic Temple are offered on a regular basis. The tour schedule varies based on date and staff availability.

Tickets for regularly scheduled tours of the Detroit Masonic Temple are available at themasonic.com. Tour dates are typically announced two to four weeks prior to the date. Tickets must be purchased in advance online.

Private tours outside of the regular schedule are available at an additional charge with a minimum of one week notice, and depending upon date and staff availability. Group rates for Masonic (must be recognized by the Grand Lodge of Michigan) and nonprofit organizations available.

For additional tour information call 313-832-7100 or email [email protected]

Tour inside the old York post office in 2017

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Transportation & Parking

Getting to the memorial.

We are located at 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301.

The Memorial is near the Telegraph Road exit off of the Capital Beltway (I-495).

By the DC Metro system

The King Street Metro Station is within walking distance to the Memorial. The Yellow and Blue lines come to this station, providing easy access from the District of Columbia. The King Street Metro has connections to the free King Street Trolley as well as several WMATA and DASH bus lines.

The Memorial is near the routes of numerous DASH bus lines: AT2 (red), AT5 (yellow), AT& (purple), and AT8 (pink). For more information, visit the DASH bus website .

MWATA buses also run in the area. For more information, consult the online WMATA bus schedule .

Take Amtrak to Alexandria Union Station. The Memorial is across the street to the west.

By Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

Take the VRE to Alexandria Union Station. The Memorial is across the street to the west.

By Ferryboat

Would you like to arrive via the Potomac River? For boating enthusiasts, the Alexandria Marina at 0 Cameron Street is a three-mile cruise from Washington, D.C., and Maryland. In addition to affording a spectacular view of the Potomac River, the City Marina has overnight boat slips and additional short-term docking space. Several water taxis dock at the Alexandria Waterfront, allowing access to and from Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon, and Maryland’s National Harbor. Learn more at Visit Alexandria’s website about local water taxi service .

Parking for Museum Guests

Daytime parking is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to 200 parking spaces are available.

Parking is free and must be shared with any other Tenant who has an event scheduled at the Memorial.

Motorcoach, Tour Bus & Oversized Vehicle Parking

Short-Term Parking (up to 3 hours) and Long-Term Parking (4 to 14 hours) is available by special permit.

Overnight parking at the Masonic Memorial requires a $40 permit for each vehicle, and must be obtained in advance on-line or from the parking meter located in the back parking lot of the Memorial. Short-term (5 to 10 hour) parking is available at the Memorial for a flat fee of $15, and must be obtained in advance on-line or from the Alexandria Visitors Center. To obtain permits online, visit the City of Alexandria’s website . Call 703-746-3301 for more information.

For more information on parking, rules, traffic regulations, and so on, please visit the City of Alexandria’s website .

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© 2024 GWMNMA . The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, Inc. is a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.