The Freemasons have always been a bit of a fascinating mystery to me, and when I discovered the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, I immediately knew I needed to visit for myself. Located just outside downtown Alexandria, Virginia (one of our favorite small towns in Virginia, for the record), this underrated gem is definitely worth visiting for history buffs, architectural enthusiasts, and fans of stellar aerial views.

Included in the $20 admission cost is an hour-long guided tour where we learned all about the history of the Freemasons. While the building is truly unique, I wouldn’t visit without a guided tour.

While nationally organized Freemasonry began in 1717 with the founding of the Grand Lodge in England, Freemason societies have existed for much longer. Many theorize that Freemasonry emerged from the stonemasonry guilds of the Middle Ages.

Today, freemasonry is a brotherhood committed to lives of character, honor, and integrity. They strive to become the best versions of themselves while caring for their communities through charitable giving and volunteer efforts. In all honesty, it is a much more boring answer than expected, but interesting nonetheless.

The building itself, however, was incredibly impressive. As soon as we opened the door to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, we found ourselves inside Memorial Hall.

Featuring eight green granite columns 40 feet tall and more than four feet wide, as well as an exquisite marble floor and two grand murals on either side, the hall was truly jaw-dropping. At the center was a colossal statue of George Washington wearing his Masonic regalia.

Inspired by the lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt – one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World – the memorial’s design is reminiscent of the classical architecture in Greece and Rome.

The memorial was added to the United State’s official list of National Historic Landmarks and the National Register of Historic Places on August 4, 20215 – the 262nd anniversary of George Washington’s raising as a Master Mason in Fredericksburg in 1753.

Once our tour began, we were given a brief introduction to the history of freemasonry as well as George Washington’s involvement before heading into the Replica Lodge Room of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, which mimics the old meeting room that existed on the second floor of the City Hall for more than 140 years.

In addition to replica lodge furniture and fascinating masonic artifacts is a famous portrait of George Washington painted by William Joseph Williams, said to be one of the most accurate depictions of Washington in existence.

From there, we headed upstairs, where we discovered The Family of Freemasonry Exhibit on the third level and the George Washington Museum on the fourth level.

Here, we learned about the unique organizations that are a part of the Freemason umbrella – including the Shriners – as well as the personal history of George Washington and several artifacts from Mount Vernon donated by Washington’s descendants, plus information on the memorial's architecture.

Last up was the ninth-floor Observation Deck, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of Alexandra, D.C., the Chesapeake Bay, and the surrounding region.

There’s little I love more than a picturesque view, and the outdoor observation deck certainly provided endless views – I loved that you could see all of Alexandria and several D.C. monuments, including the Washington Monument.

I could have spent hours admiring the view, but unfortunately, our official tour had ended, and we needed to return to the first floor.

After the official tour, we meandered through the building by ourselves, exploring various meeting rooms, an exhibit on the origins of freemasonry, and the theater.

As a self-proclaimed theater kid, the grand theater was easily my favorite room in the building, with seating for 400 and sixteen gold-veined Missouri marble columns as well as 14 bronze plaques depicting the United States Presidents that were Freemasons – I personally had no idea how many influential politicians were Freemasons.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the George Washington Masonic National Memorial website. Have you ever experienced this unique architectural gem for yourself? Do you have an interest in visiting yourself? Did you have preconceived notions about Freemasonry in America?

If you're curious to learn more about the Freemasons in America, why not do a little reading with American Freemasons: Three Centuries of Building Communities? And for kids who want to learn about historic figures, we love the Who Was series available on Amazon. The Who Was George Washington book would be perfect to read before visiting D.C. or this Alexandria, Virginia memorial.