The Long Beach Scottish Rite Cathedral has quite a bit of history. Its story began with a groundbreaking ceremony in July 1925, where a ceremonial shovel—now displayed within the building—turned the soil that would anchor its foundations. A jar of this soil, preserved alongside the shovel, serves as a tangible connection to this building’s start. The building's construction was an engineering marvel for its time. Designed by architects Wright and Gentry in the Romanesque Revival style, the Cathedral features intricate terracotta detailing on its exterior.

 

The general contractor, W.E. Campbell, collaborated with the architects to bring their vision to life. Within just 27 days, the steel framework—weighing approximately 500 tons—was erected. Architect Parker O. Wright emphasized the durability and safety of this design, stating, “Steel was selected because buildings of this type are more enduring and more nearly earthquake-proof than those of any other material.” This foresight was proven during the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, which the Cathedral withstood. Construction concluded in an impressive 14 months, and in 1980, the building was officially designated a Long Beach Historic Landmark.