Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building, San Diego
historic place
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building in San Diego, California, is a historic landmark located at 526 Market Street in the Gaslamp Quarter. This building was a collaborative effort between the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges. Construction began in 1873, but the cornerstone was not laid until March 7, 1882, due to funding and material challenges. The laying of the cornerstone included a parade and the placement of a time capsule. This capsule contained items such as valuable coins, historic documents, and a stone from Solomon's Temple. Designed in an Italian Renaissance or Classical Revival style, the building served as a meeting place for both fraternal organizations. The lodges shared the second floor until the Masons moved to a new hall in 1910. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It stands as a representation of San Diego's late 19th-century fraternal history and architectural development.