The Cornerstone Hall of Freedom was added to the House of the
Temple to commemorate the bicentennial Masonic reenactment in
1993 of the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. The
stone used during the ceremony, a perfect 18-inch cube, serves
as the exhibit’s centerpiece. The display also includes
other memorabilia from the event including a photographic collage,
a replica of the engraved silver plate affixed by George Washington
under the original stone, a copy of an 18th-century Masonic
apron, and a print of the painting, "George Washington
Laying the Cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol, Sept. 18, 1793,"
by Ill. John D. Melius, 33°.
The Library and Musem Collections Page
