Historic Prince Hall Masonic Lodge Reopens After Renovation

The newly rehabilitated space will be incorporated into the Martin Luther King Jr. National Park.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, a historic building in Atlanta that served as a gathering place for civil rights leaders during the 1960s, has undergone a major renovation and will reopen to the public with a guided tour. The project was spearheaded by the Prince Hall Masons, the country's oldest Black Masonic organization, and the renovated multi-use spaces will be partially incorporated into the adjacent Martin Luther King Jr. National Park.

Why it matters

The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge played a crucial role during the Civil Rights Movement, serving as the headquarters for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and hosting many community leaders and organizers. The restoration of this historic building preserves an important piece of Atlanta's civil rights legacy and provides a new community space within the Martin Luther King Jr. National Park.

The details

The renovation project involved rehabilitating the multi-use spaces within the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, with the bottom floors being incorporated into the adjacent Martin Luther King Jr. National Park. The project was led by architects David Steele and Olivia Hallquist and spearheaded by the Prince Hall Masons, the country's oldest Black Masonic organization.

  • The Prince Hall Masonic Lodge tour will take place on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 12 pm to 2 pm.
  • The lodge underwent a recent rehabilitation project prior to the tour.

The players

Prince Hall Masons

The country's oldest Black Masonic organization, which spearheaded the renovation project for the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge.

David Steele

Lead architect of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge renovation project.

Olivia Hallquist

Lead architect of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge renovation project.

Martin Luther King Jr. National Park

The national park that will incorporate the bottom floors of the renovated Prince Hall Masonic Lodge.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The civil rights organization that was headquartered at the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge during the 1960s.

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What they’re saying

“This tour will give an overview of the project including the rehabilitated multi use spaces, with its bottom floors incorporated into the NPS Martin Luther King Jr. National Park.”

— David Steele, Lead Architect (creativeloafing.com)

“At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the lodge was the home of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and served as a gathering place for community leaders and organizers.”

— Olivia Hallquist, Lead Architect (creativeloafing.com)

What’s next

The public will be able to tour the newly renovated Prince Hall Masonic Lodge on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 12 pm to 2 pm.

The takeaway

The restoration of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge preserves an important piece of Atlanta's civil rights history and provides a new community space within the Martin Luther King Jr. National Park, honoring the building's legacy as a hub for activism and organizing during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.