There are plentiful classical elements on the exterior and interior of the Elks National Memorial, largely owing to its Beaux-Arts design. The symmetrical exterior is a common Beaux-Arts classical design element, as are its broad staircase entrance and exterior colonnade. The building's central rotunda with domed top mirrors the design of the ancient Pantheon in Rome. This is especially noticeable on the interior, where the Elks Memorial dome has diminishing coffers that end in an oculus, largely mimicking the similar coffers and oculus of the Pantheon. The floor of the Elks National Memorial is also largely reminiscent of the floor of the Pantheon, with an alternating circle and square pattern.

Notice the similarities between the Pantheon (first picture) and the Elks National Memorial (second picture):

“Internal Pantheon Light” by Richjheathis licensed by CC BY 2.0Links to an external site.

Gabriel Caniglia

Many other elements of the Elks National Memorial are classical. The rotunda is surrounded by several colonnades on the outside and inside. The exterior Doric columns are a common characteristic of classical architecture, as are the building's interior colonnades. These colonnades integrate the three major classical Architectural Orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. These designs all originated in ancient Greece, but according to the architect, the building was "more Roman than Greek." This probably owes largely to its inspiration from the Pantheon.

Additional classical elements include the large urns that top the building's wings, as well as the many classically inspired gilded bronze sculptures. The frieze around the exterior of the building is very reminiscent of ancient Greek friezes. The many limestone relief panels behind the exterior colonnade are also traditionally classical.

Roman fasces appear in one of these panels, as well as in the mural "Fraternity." Roman gods are seen throughout the building, such as Mars in one of the Beatitudes panels, and the depictions of the gods on Mount Olympus in the ceiling triptych in the Grand Reception Room. This depiction includes Jupiter, Juno, Mars, and what appears to be the Greek goddess Hebe. In the Elks National Memorial's architectural features as well as its art, ancient Greece and Rome play a major role.