Jun 282026
66 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 4NA
A commemorative plaque on this New Town building marks the departure point of one of the most remarkable stories in the Edinburgh-America relationship. John and James Williamson were among six members of Edinburgh Masonic Lodge No. 8 who worked here as stonemasons before making the journey to Washington D.C. in 1794 to help build the White House.
From the 17th-18th century, Scottish stonemasons were among the most skilled in the world, and the Washington commissioners actively recruited them, offering good wages and paid travel. Once in America, they carved elaborate decorations into the facade, including the iconic “Double Scottish Rose,” cultivated by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.