Nob Hill Masonic Center

Nob Hill Masonic Center Review

Erected by Freemasons in 1957, the hall is familiar to locals mostly as a concert and lecture venue, where such notables as Van Morrison and Al Gore have appeared. The recent Dan Brown-led spate of interest in the Masons and other secret fraternities unfortunately hasn't done anything to improve the sight lines or the seats here, but those interested in Masonic history can check out the impressive lobby mosaic. On the eve of his mosaic's renovation in 2005, artist Emile Norman wondered aloud, "How the hell did I do that?" Mainly in rich greens and yellows, the mosaic depicts the Masons' role in California history. There's also an intricate model of King Solomon's Temple in the lobby.