Masonic Lodge of Boulder

2205 Broadway Street/ James M. Hunter and Associates architect/ International Style/ built 1948/ Historic Landmark

This striking building replaced the original Masonic Temple (1895) destroyed by fire in 1945. The Masons joined the wave of organizations that switched to a modern style. The inspiration for the design was drawn from the International Style combined with a local Colorado feeling. Most of the exterior is made of beautifully detailed local sandstone.

Key design elements are the horizontal composition of the forms, the simply-detailed sandstone second floor above a concrete first floor, the flat roofs, the concrete canopy at the entrance, the concrete eyebrow overhangs at the first floor windows, and horizontal reveals in the first-story concrete façade.

The Boulder History Museum bought the building in 2013, had it designated as a city landmark, and renovated it to become the Museum of Boulder. Alterations made to the exterior were required to meet approval from the city's Landmarks Board.