Tripoli Shrine Temple

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name = Tripoli Temple
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caption = Tripoli Shrine Temple
location = 3000 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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added = January 16, 1986
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refnum = 86000142
mpsub = West Side Area MRA
governing_body = The Tripoli Shrine Temple is a Shriners mosque located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The building is based on the Taj Mahal in India and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Description

Although the Tripoli Shrine was founded in 1885 by nobles from the Medinah Temple in Chicago, the fraternal order traces its linage to a Masonic lodge which was established by early settlers of Milwaukee in 1843. This lodge later founded a dozen other lodges. [ [http://www.jsonline.com/story/?id=322427 From east to west on W. Wisconsin] , "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel," May 1, 2005.]

Tripoli Mosque was designed by architects Clas and Shepard in Moorish Revival style. It formally opened on May 14, 1928 after over two years of construction and was built at a cost of $616,999.61. It became the first temple in Wisconsin and was home to 13,000 Shriners in the area. [ [http://www.tripolishrine.com/milwaukee.htm Tripoli Shrine in Milwaukee] , "Tripoli Shrine Temple", retrieved November 4, 2006.] The building is one of the best of examples of Moorish Revival architecture in the United States, a style that was particularly popular for synagogues and movie theaters. The Temple is loosely based on the Taj Mahal, with the addition of Mudejar style polychrome stone coursing. An ornately tiled main dome which spans 30 feet in diameter crowns the structure and is flanked by two smaller domes of like design. A pair of reclined camels grace the entrance, while the interior is decorated with ceramic tile of intricate floral designs and plaster lattice work. [ [http://www.retrocom.com/retromilw/church1.htm Milwaukee Historic Churches] , "RetroCom Retro Milwaukee", retrieved November 4, 2006.]

Milwaukee Shriners are known for the Tripoli Shrine Circus, which raises money to benefit temple operations.

External links

* [http://www.tripolishrine.com/ Tripoli Shrine Temple]
* [http://www.milwaukeecircus.com/ Tripoli Shrine Circus]

ee also

*Moorish Revival

References