The Elks Veterans Memorial was built as a tribute to the bravery and dedication of the thousands of Elks who laid their lives for America. The Elks organization is a fraternity that was founded in 1868. After the spark of World War I, the Elks felt that a memorial should be built to honor their 70,000 members who had served during the war. It was a great deal for the Elks that they even held a national competition to find an architect. The results found Egerton Swartwout’s design as the winning entry.

The Elks Veterans Memorial is considered as one of the most magnificent war memorials in the world, perhaps because of its sentimental costs. However, its classical revival style makes it look not as inviting. But then, when visitors enter it, they always come out amazed. There’s so much stories that the memorial can tell. One of its spectacular features is its Grand Reception Hall. The hall is comparable to a castle’s. And every square inch of it, from the floor up to the ceiling, is opulently decorated.