Tripoli Shrine Temple
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The Tripoli Shrine Temple is a Shriners mosque located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The building is based on the Taj Mahal in India and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Description
Although the Tripoli Shrine was founded in 1885 by nobles from the Medinah Temple in Chicago, the fraternal order traces its linage to a Masonic lodge which was established by early settlers of Milwaukee in 1843. This lodge later founded a dozen other lodges. [1]
Tripoli Mosque was designed by architects Clas and Shepard during a period of fantasy revival style. It formally opened on May 14, 1928 after over two years of construction and was built at a cost of $616,999.61. It became the first temple in Wisconsin and was home to 13,000 Shriners in the area. [2] The building is one of the few examples of Saracenic architecture in America. An ornately tiled main dome which spans 30 feet in diameter crowns the structure and is flanked by two smaller domes of like design. A pair of reclined camels grace the entrance, while the interior is decorated with ceramic tile of intricate floral designs and plaster lattice work. [3]
Milwaukee Shriners are known for the Tripoli Shrine Circus, which raises money to benefit temple operations.
[edit] References
- ^ From east to west on W. Wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 1, 2005.
- ^ Tripoli Shrine in Milwaukee, Tripoli Shrine Temple, retrieved November 4, 2006.
- ^ Milwaukee Historic Churches, RetroCom Retro Milwaukee, retrieved November 4, 2006.
