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Title:
Medal commemorating the Masonic Temple Building in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Object name(s):
Metal; Medal, United States of America
Brief description:
Silver coloured metal medal. The obverse is divided into two unequal sections. In the top section central to the design is a relief depiction of the Masonic Temple Building in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. (see notes below). Arching the central design is relief text reading 'MASONIC FRATERNITY TEMPLE'. In the bottom section is relief text reading 'CHICAGO'. On the reverse central to the design is relief text reading '308 FEET HIGH / 20 STORIES AND / PROMENADE DECK. / 16 ELEVATORS, CARRYING CAPACITY / 50,000 / PERSONS PER DAY / ESTIMATED VALUE / $ 4500,000.'. Encircling the central design in a border is relief text reading 'HIGHEST COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN THE WORLD'.
Collection:
Museum of Freemasonry
Acquisition method:
Donation
Associated concept:
Medals Freemasonry U.S.A. Illinois
Associated concept:
Architecture--Freemasonry--U.S.A.--Illinois--Chicago--Masonic Temple Building
Comments:
The Masonic Temple Building was completed in 1892. In 1895 it became the tallest building in Chicago. Meeting rooms for lodges were located on the top floors of the building and below there were various floors filled with shops. However, the difficulty of accommodating the crowds of people in the building eventually meant many stopped shopping there and so the commercial aspect of the building declined. The building was demolished in 1939 and new buildings have been opened in its place.
Comments:
Although there is no date on the medal originals would likely have been struck between 1892 and 1895 when the Masonic Temple Building was the tallest in Chicago. Replicas of the medal could have been made after this time.
Comments:
The cataloguing of the medal collection at the Library and Museum of Freemasonry was supported by a grant from Arts Council England in 2013.
Content - description:
Masonic Temple Building, Chicago
Dimension:
H: n/a W: n/a D: 2.5 Dia: 50 Wt: n/a
Entry date:
n/k
Inscription content:
'HANSON'
Object name:
Metal; Medal, United States of America
Object number:
M2013/1536
Object production date:
n/k
Object production place:
United States of America
Reproduction format:
Digital image
Technique:
Struck metal

Persistent shareable link for this record: https://museumdata.uk/objects/36a29bac-edd7-3d79-8fac-d8136280f46d

Use licence for this record: CC BY

Attribution for this record: https://museumdata.uk/objects/36a29bac-edd7-3d79-8fac-d8136280f46d, Museum of Freemasonry, CC BY

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