Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 12, 2025
Dayton Masonic Center Launches $20M Preservation Campaign
TLDR
- The Dayton Masonic Center's $20 million campaign offers donors a chance to secure naming rights and community recognition while preserving a historic landmark.
- The Dayton Masonic Center's three-year campaign uses a $20 million endowment to generate $1 million annually for building preservation and operational sustainability.
- This campaign preserves a historic community hub that hosts civic events and cultural programs, strengthening Dayton's social fabric for future generations.
- The Dayton Masonic Center, built in 1926 with materials from four states, features a 1,700-seat auditorium and hosts an online auction through November 19th.
Impact - Why it Matters
This preservation effort matters because historic landmarks like the Dayton Masonic Center represent more than just architectural beauty—they serve as living connections to community heritage and identity. When such institutions are maintained and revitalized, they continue to function as vital gathering spaces that foster civic engagement, cultural enrichment, and social cohesion. The campaign's success ensures that future generations will have access to this historic venue for events, celebrations, and community programs, preserving both the physical structure and the intangible social fabric it supports. Historic preservation also contributes to local economic vitality by maintaining tourist attractions and event venues that draw visitors and support local businesses.
Summary
The Dayton Masonic Center has launched an ambitious three-year, $20 million Centennial Cornerstone Campaign to preserve and secure the future of this historic architectural landmark. The fundraising initiative kicks off with an online virtual fundraising auction running through November 19th, marking the beginning of a comprehensive effort to maintain the Center's role as a vibrant community hub. Located in Dayton's Grafton Hill historic district, this magnificent structure built in 1926 from Bedford stone, Vermont marble, Alabama limestone, and Tennessee marble has hosted countless civic, cultural, and fraternal events throughout its nearly century-long history.
The campaign represents a significant investment in both physical preservation and community programming, with plans to establish a $20 million endowment that will generate approximately $1 million annually for operations and improvements. Doug Sorrell, a 33rd Degree Mason and Past Potentate of Antioch Shrine, expressed his pride in the initiative, emphasizing that "the Dayton Masonic Center is more than a building—it's where memories are made and service begins." The Center's impressive facilities include a 1,700-seat auditorium, a 600-seat banquet hall, Masonic lodges, and the Dayton Dyslexia Center, all of which will benefit from the campaign's success.
Supporters are encouraged to participate through the fundraising campaign's various channels, including the ongoing auction and direct contributions. The preservation effort aims to ensure that this National Register of Historic Places-listed building continues to serve as a cornerstone of Dayton's cultural fabric for generations to come, maintaining its stunning riverfront location with views of downtown Dayton while enhancing its accessibility and programming for the broader community.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by Newsworthy.ai. Read the original source here, Dayton Masonic Center Launches $20M Preservation Campaign
