The Sphinx

The iconic sphinx sculptures that guard the entrance to the El Paso Scottish Rite Temple were cast in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, by the  Federal-Seaboard Terra Cotta Company—an esteemed manufacturer that ceased operations in 1968. Following their creation, the sphinxes were carefully transported to El Paso by truck. From initial casting to final installation on their pedestals, the entire process spanned ten months,  culminating on September 26, 1966.

Each sphinx measures approximately ten feet in length and weighs nearly 4,000 pounds. The official dedication ceremony was held during the Scottish Rite Reunion on October 20, 1966.

Among the nine Scottish Rite Bodies in Texas, El Paso was the first to feature sphinx sculptures. In a gesture of fraternal generosity, the  El Paso Bodies later facilitated the gifting of a pair to the Waco  Consistory.

These monumental works are recognized as the largest single-cast terra cotta sculptures in the world. Terra cotta—a clay-based,  waterproof, fired, and unglazed ceramic—was selected for its durability and historical significance. The design of the sphinxes was inspired by those flanking the entrance of the Scottish Rite Temple in Washington,  D.C.