Landmark Convention Center, Tacoma

Landmark Convention Center occupies the former Masonic Temple Building and Temple Theatre, a large 1920s complex designed by Ambrose J. Russell for the Masonic Grand Lodge of Washington. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, it reflects the era’s taste for grand fraternal halls and public gathering spaces. Its hillside setting gives the building a terraced, multi-level form, while Russell’s connection to the William Ross Rust House adds further architectural interest.

The attached Temple Theatre gives the complex much of its character. Opened in 1927 as the Heilig Theater, it later became Hamrick’s Temple Theater before taking its current name. Its Egyptian Revival interior reflects the Egyptomania that followed the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Behind the scenes, a large fly loft and traditional rope systems allowed scenery to be moved, while the wider complex was built for major crowds, with grand ballrooms and large-scale coat storage.

Today, the building serves as a convention, catering, wedding, and performance venue, with 10 historic ballrooms and more than 36,000 square feet of event space. The Rooftop Garden Ballroom is known for views toward Commencement Bay and Mount Rainier. A rooftop fire in May 2026 was contained to the deck and roof structure, with no reported injuries. For visitors, the centre stands out for its ceremonial history, theatre design, and continued role as a gathering place.