Scottish Rite Cathedral

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

From the record

“The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a historic Masonic Temple located at Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. It was built in 1923, and is a two-story, Beaux Arts style concrete and terra cotta social hall.”
Wikipedia article Scottish Rite Cathedral (Joplin, Missouri), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 43 National Register listings published here for Jasper County · listed in 1990 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service · the Wikipedia article

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. 505 Byers Ave., Joplin, 64801
When was it listed? June 1990
Category. building
Township. Galena township
Architectural style. Beaux-Arts
National Register reference number. 90000989 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

121 words

The chapter on Galena Township in The History of Jasper County, Missouri : Including a Condensed History of the State, a Complete History of Carthage and Joplin, Other Towns and Townships : Together with Numerous Portraits of Prominent Men : Cuts of Elegant Residences and Public Buildings : a Sectional Map of the County : Biographical Sketches of Many Enterprising Farmers, Merchants, Mechanics, Professional, and Business Men : the Constitution of the State : an Abstract of Laws : an Elaborate History of Jasper County - Its Topography, Natural History, Pioneers, Organization, Political History, Courts and Bar, Religious, Educational, Medical, Agricultural, Mining, and Horticultural, Its Commercial and Business Interests, Etc, published 1883 names Joplin. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

county, Iowa, Jan. 29, 1848. His parents, Jacob and Sarah Yaryan, were natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject grew to manhood on a farm. He came to Jasper county, Mo., in the fall of 1870, locating where he now resides. He was married in December, 1868, to Miss Sarah Holt, of Ringgold county, Iowa. Mrs. Yaryan died in 1874, in this county, leaving a family of three children : Clara, Alice, and Charlie. Mr. Yaryan was again married Oct. 30, 1865, to Miss Ella, daughter of George and Amy Holt, of Joplin, she being born May 18, 1858, in Marshall county, 111. They have three children: Bertie, George, and Nellie. Our subject and Mrs. Yaryan are members of the M. E. Church.

Passage source: The History of Jasper County, Missouri : Including a Condensed History of the State, a Complete History of Carthage and Joplin, Other Towns and Townships : Together with Numerous Portraits of Prominent Men : Cuts of Elegant Residences and Public Buildings : a Sectional Map of the County : Biographical Sketches of Many Enterprising Farmers, Merchants, Mechanics, Professional, and Business Men : the Constitution of the State : an Abstract of Laws : an Elaborate History of Jasper County - Its Topography, Natural History, Pioneers, Organization, Political History, Courts and Bar, Religious, Educational, Medical, Agricultural, Mining, and Horticultural, Its Commercial and Business Interests, Etc, published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Galena Township - 121 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

57 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 57 fires within 5 miles of Scottish Rite Cathedral between 1992 and 2020, burning about 94 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 2 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	27
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	24
Arson/incendiarism	2
Recreation and ceremony	2
Natural	1
Equipment and vehicle use	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
22 September 2000	Debris and open burning	5.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
17 September 2000	Debris and open burning	3.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
6 August 1996	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	2.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
30 August 2000	Debris and open burning	3.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
24 August 2014	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
17 August 2018	Natural	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	177462-07341-08172018-1253
24 July 2019	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	179008-07341-07242019-1600
14 May 2017	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named

Every fire recorded in Jasper County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 1,266 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1,266 workings within 5 miles of Scottish Rite Cathedral: 1,262 past producers, 2 producers, 1 unknown, 1 occurrence. 2 still produce. What was taken out: Zinc, Lead, Lead, Zinc, Zinc, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Kirshmann-Jeffries Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken, Marble, Dimension	Past Producer
Independent Gravel Co	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Klondike Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Mattes Bros. Chat Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Sucker Flats Pit	Clay	Past Producer
Unknown - Zn/Pb	Zinc, Lead	Past Producer
Unknown - Zn/Pb	Zinc, Lead	Past Producer
Unknown - Zn/Pb	Zinc, Lead	Past Producer
Griesmer Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Opossum Hollow Quarry	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Jasper County

Storms near this property

60 of 161 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Joplin, the town this property stands in, in 161 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 60 thunderstorm wind, 50 hail, 28 flash flood, 7 lightning. The reports record 2 deaths and 24 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 2011	Lightning	Joplin	1 killed, 1 hurt	Emergency management officials relayed to the NWS that two law enforcement officers were struck by lightning while aiding in the recovery efforts from the EF-5 tornado in Joplin. Both officers were injured and taken to the hospital. One of the officers later died on June 2nd at the hospital from injuries he suffered from the lightning strike.
June 1996	Lightning	Joplin	1 killed	no account filed
April 1996	Tornado (F1)	Joplin	12 hurt, $12,000,000	no account filed
April 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	10 hurt, $1,000,000	no account filed
July 2002	Lightning	Joplin	1 hurt	no account filed
April 1996	Tornado (F1)	Joplin	$1,000,000	no account filed
August 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$500,000	no account filed
June 1999	Tornado (F1)	Joplin	$220,000	no account filed
May 2024	Tornado (EF1)	Joplin	$160,000	NWS storm survey found a EF-1 tornado with an intermittent damage path across the southeast and east side of Joplin into Duquesne. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph. Numerous tree limb damage and uprooted trees along with powerline damage were reported.
June 2013	Lightning	Joplin	$100,000	Two house fires were started due to lightning strikes.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$100,000	no account filed
September 2014	Lightning	Joplin	$50,000	A damaging lightning strike hit a large tree on the Ozark Community College campus early Thursday morning. It broke 18 windows in three different dorms on campus. One car was damage by falling tree debris and the phone system in the dorm was severely damaged. Time was estimated by witnesses.
May 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$50,000	A roof of a hotel was partially ripped off from severe thunderstorm wind gusts. Several trees within the city of Joplin were also damaged.
April 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$50,000	Wind gusts to 67 mph were reported at various areas of Joplin as thunderstorms moved through the area. One gust was recorded at the Joplin Regional Airport. Numerous roofs were damaged.
April 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$50,000	Wind gusts to 67 mph were reported at various areas of Joplin as thunderstorms moved through the area. One gust was recorded at the Joplin Regional Airport. Numerous roofs were damaged.
April 2019	Hail	Joplin	$40,000	Golf ball sized hail was reported. Minor damage to roofs and some cars occurred.
June 2005	Hail	Joplin	$40,000	This storm is a continuation of the Cherokee County supercell that spawned two brief tornadoes. Jasper County was mainly impacted by golf ball size hail from this storm. The storm entered the extreme southwest portion of the county prior to moving into northwest Newton County. A three mile swath of hail was observed by several amateur radio operators.
July 2010	Lightning	Joplin	$30,000	A home caught on fire from a lightning strike in the city of Joplin.
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$30,000	Severe thunderstorms repeatedly moved throught the Joplin area downing trees and power lines.
September 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$25,000	The courthouse had minor roof damage. Roof construction was rolled rood over styrofoam insulation.
January 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$20,000	Straight line winds associated with a severe thunderstorm rolled 3 small trailers at a mobile home park on to their sides.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$15,000	Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in the city of Joplin.
May 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$15,000	Downburst winds produced intermittent damage in a 30 yard wide area near the intersection of 15th and Rangeline. Damage occurred to the roof and several sheds of a lumber store. Minor damage occurred at Wal-Mart along with several shattered car windows.
April 1998	Hail	Joplin	$15,000	Numerous reports of quarter to half dollar size hail were received from areas just north of Joplin, in the Webb City area. Hail dented many cars.
June 1996	Flash Flood	Joplin	$15,000	no account filed
May 2019	Flash Flood	Joplin	$12,000	A car was flooded up to the roof.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	A tree fell on power lines knocking out power to several homes.
May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	Report of a handful of power lines and trees down across the Joplin area.
September 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	A metal outbuilding suffered minor damage.
July 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	Power lines and large limbs were reported down by the fire department.
October 2014	Lightning	Joplin	$10,000	Several lightning strikes damaged transformers in downtown Joplin which caused power outages.
August 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	Law enforcement reported several power lines down and power outages around the city.
September 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	A wall of a car dealership was destroyed and blown down.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a few power poles in Joplin.
July 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$10,000	Thunderstorm winds caused scattered damage around Joplin and surrounding communities. Two utility poles were damaged in Joplin and trees fell on a house and car in Carthage.
June 1998	Hail	Joplin	$10,000	no account filed
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$8,000	Report of roof damage.
May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	Social media report of several trees uprooted and large branches down.
April 2019	Flash Flood	Joplin	$5,000	The Emergency Manager reported that a water rescue was performed near the intersection of 32nd Street and St. Johns Boulevard. The vehicle occupant was rescued safely after driving through high water and being washed of the road.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a few power lines in Joplin.
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	A few powerline poles and lines were downed from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree on a mobile home causing minor damage.
May 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	Thunderstorm winds downed a tree which heavily damaged a house.
April 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	A wind gust to 62 mph was reported at the Joplin Regional Airport. Numerous large trees and limbs were blown down in Carthage as well.
April 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$5,000	Wind gusts to 67 mph were reported at various areas of Joplin as thunderstorms moved through the area. One gust was recorded at the Joplin Regional Airport. Numerous roofs were damaged.
May 2019	Flash Flood	Joplin	$4,000	A flooded parking lot with a partially submerged car was reported. A picture was received via social media. This was a continuation of flooding that began on April 30th.
May 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$4,000	no account filed
August 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$3,000	Several trees and power lines were blown down in Joplin.
June 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$1,000	A tree was down on the northeast side of Joplin.
September 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$1,000	The public reported a small tree on a house on north Miller Street in Joplin.
July 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	$500	Thunderstorm winds damaged a barn and downed a large tree.
April 1994	Hail	Joplin	$500	Police reported golf ball-size hail on the southeast edge of Joplin.
March 1994	Hail	Joplin	$500	no account filed
April 1994	Hail	Joplin	$50	no account filed
April 2026	Flash Flood	Joplin	-	Multiple roads and city streets were reported flooded and closed in the city of Joplin.
April 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	-	A trained spotter reported winds of 70 mph.
April 2025	Hail	Joplin	-	Penny sized hail was reported.
March 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Joplin	-	A 60 mph wind gust was measured in the city of Joplin.
June 2025	Flood	Joplin	-	Flooding caused a handful of ditches to flow into the streets, with Murphy Blvd shut down due to water over the low water bridge.
November 2025	Flood	Joplin	-	Picher and Junge roads were closed due to flooding.

Every storm recorded in Jasper County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Joplin YMCA	under 500 feet	2022
Elks Club Lodge #501	under 500 feet	1985
Murphysburg Historic District	under 500 feet	2015
Olivia Apartments	0.1 miles	2008
Joplin Furniture Company Building	0.2 miles	2012
Ridgway Apartments	0.2 miles	2006

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 90000989 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Jasper County	All 43 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.