The Masonic

There are a wide range of venues in the state of California, from amphitheatres to stadiums and concert halls, but one of its most impressive venues is The Masonic, located conveniently in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood. This revered theatre is not only historic but also quite popular, making it prudent to book The Masonic parking ahead of time with ParkWhiz. The venue is owned by the Masons of California, serving as their headquarters and the location of their yearly meeting; it is operated as an event space by Livenation for the rest of the year. The 1848 Gold Rush brought many new emigrants to California, including Freemasons. They were first based in Sacramento in 1850, before moving to a new building in San Francisco in 1863, which was subsequently damaged beyond repair during the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The Masons relocated to 25 Van Ness in 1913 before moving to the current structure on California Street in 1958. The architect for The Masonic was Albert Roller, who designed it in mid-century modernist style. One of the most famous aspects of the venue is an enormous mosaic mural by artist Emile Norman, utilizing many materials to create the frieze. The same artist also created a sculpture for the facade of the structure, made in memorial of past Masons. That in turn reflects the prior name of the venue, the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium. This spacious historical auditorium draws not only famous artists but also large crowds, making it important to book The Masonic parking in advance with ParkWhiz.

Photo by Daderot (Own work) [Public domain or CC0], via Wikimedia Commons