There’s a lot of history behind the Tripoli Shrine Center in Milwaukee.
Built in 1925, the building is home to Milwaukee’s Shriners International but is also available to the public as a rentable events venue. The ballroom seats about 400 people.
“Every fixture, every piece of tile and mosaic that you see, it’s all original from 1925,” said Bruce Nelson, Tripoli Shrine Center historian. “It’s just unbelievable.”
An architectural replica of the Taj Mahal, the nationally-designated historic building contains an estimated 1.5 million mosaic tiles, which Nelson said were placed one piece at a time. The camel statues out front are carved French limestone, and together weigh about 5.5 tons.
Address: 300 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
Owner: Tripoli Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
Assessed: $1.3 million
