This is the reading room of the library. The Supreme Council, 33° was the first institution to offer a public library in the District of Columbia. It was started by Albert Pike and originally located at Indiana Avenue and Third Street, N.W. We have approximately 250,000 volumes in the collection mostly focusing on Freemasonry and fraternal organizations. Our Masonic collection is one of the most complete in the world.

The glass showcases feature a variety of mementos relating to Freemasonry. One of the unique books on display is the first Masonic book printed in America. It was printed by Benjamin Franklin in 1734, and titled Anderson’s Constitutions. Only about 18 copies are known to still exist out of the original pressing of 100. The stacks house the majority of the books in our collection.