Saturday July 18th, 2026 * 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

George Washington Lodge No. 143 will open the doors of its historic Masonic Temple to the public., in conjunction with Old Market Day and the Burning of Chambersburg Living History Portrayal.

Located at 74 South Second Street, the Lodge invites community members, families, and the curious to step inside a building that has quietly watched over Chambersburg for more than two centuries.

Visitors will have the rare chance to walk through a historic Masonic lodge, see historic artifacts and exhibits up close, and talk with lodge members about what Freemasonry actually is.

The Lodge’s story begins in 1799, when local Masons petitioned the Grand Lodge to establish a lodge in Chambersburg.

That effort gave rise to Lodge No. 79, with Revolutionary War veteran James Chambers, son of town founder Benjamin Chambers, serving as Worshipful Master. Lodge No. 79 eventually faded away, but the town’s Masonic story didn’t end there.

In 1815, a new charter brought George Washington Lodge No. 143 into being, tying Chambersburg’s Masonic heritage directly to both James Chambers and the nation’s first president, for whom the Lodge is named.

Today, that same building still stands in active use, and is the oldest structure in Pennsylvania built solely for Masonic purposes that remains in use for that purpose today.

The Lodge also holds a dramatic place in the town’s Civil War history. According to a well-authenticated legend, during the burning of Chambersburg in 1864, a Confederate officer of high rank recognized the significance of the Masonic Temple and ordered guards to protect it, sparing the building and nearby structures from the flames.

Free tours, exhibits, and light refreshments will be available throughout the day.

No registration is required.

George Washington Lodge #143 and Eastern Star Martha Custis #342 will be participating in the open house.