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Valley of Northwest Kansas

Valley of Northwest Kansas Scottish Rite

From Salina to Northwest Kansas — A Tradition Expanding Its Reach

The Valley of Northwest Kansas, formerly known as the Valley of Salina, carries one of the oldest Scottish Rite traditions in Kansas.

Its story begins in 1876, when the Salina Lodge of Perfection No. 9 was established. Within a few years, Salina had become one of the principal centers of Scottish Rite Masonry in Kansas. By 1912, Salina was already recognized as one of only six Scottish Rite Consistories operating in the state.

Now, as the Valley transitions from Salina to Northwest Kansas, it enters a new chapter—one that honors the remarkable history of Salina while opening the doors of Scottish Rite Masonry to an even broader region.

The name is changing. The legacy is not.

A Valley That Refused to Stay Small

The history of Scottish Rite Masonry in Salina is a story of remarkable growth and determination.

The first Salina Masonic Temple was built in 1886. After a devastating fire destroyed the building and much of the surrounding business district in 1895, the Masonic bodies rebuilt. When that temple eventually became too small, the members dreamed even bigger.

Construction began in 1919 on what was envisioned as a magnificent new Masonic Temple. Tragically, the partially completed structure suffered a catastrophic collapse in 1920 because of faulty construction, resulting in a loss estimated at approximately $250,000—an enormous sum at the time.

The members did not give up.

A new temple was eventually completed and opened in 1927, providing Salina Masons with an impressive home worthy of the growing Scottish Rite community.

That perseverance is one of the defining characteristics of the Valley’s history.

When circumstances changed, Salina Scottish Rite rebuilt.

A Stage With a Story

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Salina Valley’s history is its connection to the great tradition of Scottish Rite theatrical degree productions.

In 1901, the Salina Masonic Temple was expanded to accommodate a much larger Scottish Rite stage, including a fly loft and horseshoe balcony. Scottish Rite reunions could involve several days of degree work, with many of the degrees presented in elaborate ceremony and full theatrical form.

But the story becomes even more remarkable in 1927.

When the new Salina temple was completed, the Valley acquired an enormous collection of Scottish Rite scenery that had previously been used by the Scottish Rite in McAlester, Oklahoma. The collection consisted of 117 painted scenery drops, nearly an entire railroad carload of scenery.

Much of this scenery had been painted under the direction of legendary Scottish Rite scenic artist Thomas G. Moses, whose work helped define the visual language of Scottish Rite degree productions throughout the Southern Jurisdiction.

Some of the scenery associated with Salina has been identified as work by David Austin Strong, a renowned scenic artist who worked with the famous Sosman & Landis studio and was described by Moses as the “Daddy of Masonic Design.”

For visitors interested in theater, art, architecture, or Masonic history, this makes the Salina/Northwest Kansas Valley particularly special.

The Valley’s history is not only something to read about—it is something that can still be seen.

A Story of Survival

The Valley’s history contains more than grand temples and beautiful scenery. It is also a story of resilience.

Fire destroyed the original Masonic Temple in 1895.

The replacement building was destroyed by another fire in 1922.

The ambitious temple project begun in 1919 suffered a catastrophic structural collapse.

Yet each time, the Masons of Salina rebuilt.

That history says something important about the character of the Valley: Scottish Rite Masonry in this part of Kansas has survived because generations of members believed the institution was worth rebuilding and passing forward.

From Salina to Northwest Kansas

The transition to the Valley of Northwest Kansas recognizes something that has always been true: the Valley’s reach extends well beyond the city of Salina.

Salina’s location in the heart of Kansas has historically made it a natural gathering place for Masons from communities throughout the central and western portions of the state.

The new name provides an opportunity to make that regional identity explicit.

Northwest Kansas is home to communities separated by considerable distances, but Scottish Rite Masonry provides a way to bring Masons together around shared ideals rather than simply geography.

The Valley can now look toward a future in which its membership reflects the full breadth of Northwest Kansas while continuing to honor the Salina heritage from which it came.

RiteCare: A Legacy of Helping Children

The Valley’s commitment to service is perhaps best represented by its support of RiteCare.

A particularly meaningful chapter took place at Fort Hays State University, where the Herndon Clinic became a designated RiteCare facility. The clinic provides services related to speech, language, hearing, and literacy for children in Hays and surrounding communities.

The Salina Scottish Rite helped support the clinic, including a contribution from the Knights of St. Andrew, demonstrating that the Valley’s philanthropy extends well beyond its own membership.

This work reflects one of the central purposes of Scottish Rite philanthropy:

Helping children who need a voice find one.

Across Kansas, RiteCare continues to be one of the most visible ways Scottish Rite Masons turn their principles into meaningful service. The Orient of Kansas currently supports five RiteCare clinics serving children with speech, language, and learning challenges.

A Valley With a New Name—and a Very Old Heart

The Valley of Northwest Kansas stands at an exciting point in its history.

Its future is regional.

Its heritage is Salina.

Its story reaches back to 1876.

And its purpose remains the same: to provide Master Masons with an opportunity for deeper study, meaningful fellowship, personal growth, and service to others.

The men who built the first temple could not have known what Scottish Rite Masonry would look like nearly 150 years later.

But they understood something that remains true today:

A fraternity survives when each generation chooses to carry it forward.

The Valley of Northwest Kansas now carries that responsibility.

From the historic Scottish Rite bodies of Salina to the broader communities of Northwest Kansas, the next chapter is ready to be written.

Come Discover the Valley

Whether you are a longtime Scottish Rite Mason, a Master Mason considering the next step in your Masonic journey, or simply someone interested in the remarkable history of Kansas Masonry, the Valley of Northwest Kansas has a story worth discovering.

Nearly 150 years of tradition.

A history of rebuilding.

A legacy of service.

And a new name for a new era.

Welcome to the Valley of Northwest Kansas.