Quite apart from its Masonic lore, the temple -- among the world's largest -- is one of America's best on-site illustrations of the use of post-Civil War architecture and design. No expense was spared in the construction, and the halls are more or less frozen in time. Sitting directly across the street from City Hall, the historic megaplex houses seven lodge halls designed to capture the seven "ideal" architectures. Renaissance, Ionic, Oriental, Corinthian, Gothic, Egyptian, and Norman are all represented. This is the preeminent Masonic Temple of American Freemasonry. Many of the Founding Fathers, including Washington, were Masons, and the museum has preserved their letters and emblems. (For fun, ask the guard for the secret handshake.)