Angelus Temple

Complete in 1923, this was the base of operations for Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), a pioneer in the field of radio evangelism and the first to incorporate Hollywood and vaudeville style entertainment techniques in her broadcast sermons and preaching. Her doctrines--summarized as the "Foursquare Gospel"-- have served as a model for many modern Pentacostal evangelists. McPherson had Angelus Temple constructed following her design guidance in 1923. It is an unusal gore-shaped, domed, reinforced concrete auditorium that seats 5,300. The dome, surmounted by a highly visible neon-lit cross, served as a beacon to the vast numbers who came to hear Sister Aimee preach. During the Depression the Temple provided an important food and shelter service to the entire community.

Information provided by the National Registry of Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service.