Wichita Scottish Rite Center, formerly YMCA

Called a "showpiece" for its ornate design, this building has stood in downtown Wichita for 135 years. Initially built in 1888 to house the first YMCA in the city, it was sold a decade later as an economic collapse made members unable to pay what they had pledged. They sold the structure to the Scottish Rite of Wichita who expanded the building twice, in 1907 and 1956, and has used the building ever since. Today the temple is a noted local landmark and a popular sightseeing stop for visitors from out of town.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Wichita was founded in January 1885. Although others were involved, this founding is largely credited to A.A. Hyde, developer of Mentholatum and a prominent philanthropist. Their first building had only two rooms and, like many other early organizations, ran out of rented space, in this case, the second floor of a grocery store. This early YMCA was far removed from the inclusive modern organization, as it only accepted white men for membership and required the members to prove they belonged to a church, excluding all who weren't Christian.

This building was the first to belong exclusively to the Wichita YMCA. It was designed by Proudfoot and Bird and cost $60,000 to complete, about $1.8 million today. The finished product, which opened in 1888, was an ornate Romanesque structure boasting large windows and castle-like ornamentation on the building's roof. The structure's tenure as the home of the YMCA was short-lived, however. It opened its doors at the onset of a major area economic collapse and many of the wealthy locals who had made pledges to the organization quickly proved unable to pay what they had promised. They sold the building to the Wichita Scottish Rite in 1898 for $75,000, just enough to keep them from having to default on their association's debts.

After purchasing the building, the Scottish Rite Temple moved out of their old home at a nearby Baptist Church building. They made plans to expand their new temple shortly after its purchase. In 1907, they built an "elegant" addition to the north of the building which was designed by C.W. Terry. The new wing held a dining room and auditorium. In 1956 they expanded again, adding a 140-foot, three-story space to the west. Today the elaborate building is a noted landmark of downtown Wichita. It is 135 years old, but remains in good shape and continues to house the Scottish Rite to this day.

Pankratz, Richard D.. Scottish Rite Temple - National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form, NPS.gov. November 4th, 1971. Accessed February 11th, 2023. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/ffab84df-74f0-46aa-b9b2-8f7ce5ad5e56/.

Mission and History, Wichita Scottish Rite. Accessed February 11th, 2023. https://wichitascottishrite.org/gallery/.

Tanner, Beccy. Greater Wichita YMCAs celebrate 125 years, The Wichita Eagle. January 10th, 2010. Accessed February 11th, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20150323065911/https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article1020301.html.