The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capital : The Masons and the Building of Washington, D.C. (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this audacious, erudite study, Ovason (The Secrets of Nostradamus) sets out to prove that Washington, D.C., was designed and built largely by Masonic architectsAand that they imprinted the beliefs of their brotherhood on the city's layout. Benjamin Franklin, architect James Hoban (who designed the White House), Presidents Garfield and Polk and Statue of Liberty sculptor Frederic Bartholdi were all Masons. Indeed, when President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol building in 1793, he wore a Masonic apron adorned with occult Masonic symbols and an image of the zodiac. And although textbooks teach that the federal city was the brainchild of French engineer Pierre-Charles L'Enfant, Ovason argues that Washington, Jefferson, U.S. Surveyor General Andrew Ellicott and othersAmany of them MasonsAsubstantially modified L'Enfant's original blueprint. As a result, Masonic symbolism appears in the marble, plaster, concrete, glass and paint facades of the Federal Reserve, the Library of Congress and other landmarks. This book, the result of a decade of thought and research, establishes the plausibility of Ovason's theory. However, the volumeAa labyrinthine, illustrated tomeAalso contains a good deal of wild speculation. Ovason posits, for example, that the "earthly triangle" formed by Capitol/White House/Washington Monument mirrors a triangle of stars in the constellation Virgo, an astrological sign important to the Masons. This, he contends, proves that Masons secretly consecrated the nation's capital to the celestial Virgo. It's an interesting, if dubious, suggestionAbut Ovason never establishes the significance of the link between the capital and the occult. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Ovason, an astrology teacher, analyzes the symbols in the architecture of Washington, DC, and connects them to the influences of the arcane traditions of Masonry. This ambitious work looks at the Capitol, the Washington Monument, city planning, and the numerous zodiacs located throughout the city. A major theme is the importance of the Virgo sign of the zodiac and how it is reflected in the sculpture, design, and ceremony involved in the construction of the capital. In general, the work contains thorough research and brilliant analysis, but the reader may find that Ovason reads too much into some symbols, especially when locating ties to Virgo. A minor problem is the overuse of substantive endnotes, which displaces some important information that could have been incorporated into the text. Recommended for academic libraries with collections of architectural history, Masonic, or esoteric literature. By contrast, The United States Capitol is a collection of specialists' papers offering numerous points of view on a single building in the nation's capital. The first section, on architecture, traces the design and construction of the building from its beginnings in 1790 through the present Office of the Architect. Much emphasis is placed on the conflicts of personality and philosophy that have burdened the building's development. The second section, on painting and sculpture, focuses more on the objects than the artists, giving considerable attention to techniques and hidden meanings within the works. Altogether, the book is well researched and appropriately illustrated with photographs and architectural drawings. Recommended for both academic and larger public libraries.DEric Linderman, Ida Rupp P.L., Port Clinton, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (July 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060195371
• ISBN-13: 978-0060195373
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #963,101 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Esoteric Tour of the US Capital, July 27, 2000

By	Scott Snyder (Northern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's generally well known that many of the Founding Fathers were Masons. Ovason presents convincing evidence that Masonic symbolism is hard-wired into the layout of our nation's capital.

To do so, he reviews the beginnings of the city: Washington's selection of this site for the new nation's capital, the design competitions, the building projects. Having lived in DC at one time, this alone made the book worthwhile. Ovason then overlays the city with all the astrological symbolism that can be found around the district. Some of it is in the open and is plain for all to see. Other things are hidden. Better yet, alignments between zodiacal symbols have meanings and the author careful spells it all out.

I won't give away the complete story, but Ovason has discovered something in the layout of Constitution Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue and the Old Post Office that locks heaven and earth together and gives literally concrete meaning to celestial symbology. Washington is the New Rome, and our Founding Fathers carefully imprinted their hopes for the future in the very streets of the city.

You'll never look at Washington, DC the same way ever again.

49 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America: Founded upon Masonic Principles, by Masons, February 28, 2001

By	Graham Douglas Lincoln "The Truth is Absolute... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

George Washington layed the Cornerstone of The White House in "Full Masonic Regalia" and I have found various illustrations of our Founding Father, in his Regalia, surrounded with Masonic Symbolism, but this book contains more, including the story! I have known that America was founded upon Masonic Principles for a very long time, but this is the first book I have seen, in the public domain, that tells much of story. Also, there are many Illustrations, Full Color Photos and informative Masonic revelations in this book that I have not seen, before. I cannot claim that the Astrological information was new to me...but, I have been studying Astrology and reading Masonic texts for ten years. Anyone with a smidgeon of interest in Masonry knows that America was founded upon these Principles and the ideas of Great Men, such as John Locke..... However, most people do not realize that America is Founded upon Masonry, to the extent that it pervades the Architecture--not-only of Washington, D.C.--of our Nation. Public buildings all-over Louisville, KY and the surrounding area (including small towns in Indiana) are adorned with Masonic Symbolism. Masonic Symbolism is built into the Stonework of most of the Courthouses and other public buildings, including churches. A small town, in Indiana, even has Masonic Templar Symbolism built into the stained-glass windows. For an interesting journey, take a Carriage ride around Louisville, KY (and check-out the Symbolism on the "2nd street bridge," then cross-over to Jeffersonville, IN and take a good look at the old Masonic Lodge!). It's not just D.C. Folks...it's the whole country. However, this fine book explores the wonders of our Nation's Capitol and gives us beautiful pictures of our "hidden" history. Nearly every Mason will want this book, because it has a photo of Albert Pike's Grave Site and lots of Masonic Symbolism, plus one beautiful, full-color Masonic Jewel !

Also, High-Degree Masons are building a "Masonic Museum" to showcase their contribution to History and Society, which will prove this book is a wonderful addition to your collection. Buy it now, in Hardback, because this ones will be a Collector's Item, soon.....

28 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Astrology Than I Ever Wanted to Know, June 10, 2001

By A Customer

I was drawn to this book by its title. After a good start with the early history of the planning of the capital by George Washington and L'Enfant, including freemasonic influences in the foundation stone ceremony and the cornerstone ceremony, the author zeroes in on what is to be the main thrust of the book, his analysis of the astrological signage scattered around the capital area and what that might mean. Perhaps George Washington, L'Enfant and the early capital architects were into astrology, I don't know. Perhaps the sign Virgo has some supernatural significance for the well being of the capital and the country, I don't know. I do know this, one needs to believe in astrology for this book to have credibility for them. To make a long story short, the book was a disappointment to me.