Source: (large) Scottish Rite Temple Lummus Park via Wikimedia Commons
Scottish Rite Temple in Miami is considered the city’s first Art Deco building. At first glance, it looks less like a Miami landmark and more like a slice of ancient Egypt—four two-story-high columns frame its entrance and a grand pyramidal roof peaks overhead. That’s no coincidence—the building was commissioned around the same time as the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Step inside, and you’ll quickly realize that the magic doesn’t stop at the entrance. You’ll stumble upon the striking two-story Temple Theater, a starry-sky mural and hand-painted Masonic ritual tableaus at every corner.
This season, the Miami landmark is hosting a spellbinding, candlelit tribute to The Lord of the Rings soundtrack inside its grand historic theater. Sign up to the waitlist now and get exclusive access to tickets 24 hours before they go on general sale.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings – Waitlist
What makes Scottish Rite Temple so impressive?
Source: Wiki Commons, Scottish Rite Temple 1924
The temple’s facade is a striking early Miami blend of Egyptian Revival imagery and emerging Art Deco geometry. Look a little closer and you’ll notice the finer details—four double-headed eagles with “32” numerals carved between each eagle’s two heads, referring to the 32 degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
Inside, the showpiece is the Temple Theater. It’s a large auditorium with a balcony, decorative opera boxes, a richly ornamented Moorish proscenium arch and a ceiling sky-inspired mural. It also retains an original 1,995-pipe Skinner organ that was built for Masonic ceremonies and also provided accompanying music to silent films.
If history’s more your thing, this place has it in spades. During World War II, the Temple took on a very different role. Its Banquet Hall was transformed from an elegant gathering space into a working U.S. Army planning hub. When Hurricane Andrew hit the temple in 1992, the damage led to an unexpected discovery: a long-hidden orchestra pit that is now used for events.
With all that history and theatrical grandeur, it’s no surprise that the Scottish Rite Temple MIA makes such a memorable setting for live music today. This season, themes from The Lord of the Rings, including “The Fellowship” and “The One Ring,” will be taking over the building’s two-story theater by candlelight. Thousands of candles, a string quartet and the One Ring to rule them all.
Event details
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Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings – Waitlist