Hidden pool under Altria Theater in Richmond

November 19, 2025 · 1:02 read

Category: Arts & Culture

Show: Unscripted RVA

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/8FvMKJyv224 Built exactly 1 century ago in the basement of the ACCA Temple; the now Altria Theater included a large pool, lockers, billiard rooms and even

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/8FvMKJyv224

Built exactly 1 century ago in the basement of the ACCA Temple; the now Altria Theater included a large pool, lockers, billiard rooms and even a bowling alley. The Shriners constructed the building as a meeting place for their growing fraternal order and as a grand entertainment venue for the city of Richmond.

The tile was imported from Spain and Italy and covered everything including the ceilings. The pool was 9 1/2 feet deep with a diving board.

The shrine was the 1918 brainchild of Clinton L. Williams, who felt his organization had outgrown its original meeting place, so he set out to build a venue that would outshine any other. The original plans included a 4600 seat theater, four lounges, six lobbies, 18 dressing rooms, 42 hotel rooms, a gymnasium, locker rooms, the pool, the bowling alley, offices, and a restaurant called the Mosque Grill. The theaters price tag was 1.65 million.

The ACCA Shriners were founded in 1886 and built the shrine which opened in 1926. The building was later sold to the city of Richmond in the 1940s and was known as the Mosque until it was renovated and reopened in 1995 as the Landmark. Its current name Altria Theater came after the 2014 renovation.

Got thoughts? Send us a text here:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2513071/open_sms

Subscribe to the audio podcast:

https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com

Follow us:

https://instagram.com/verahouse.co

Hosted by Myke Metzger & Perri Young:

https://instagram.com/mykemetzger

https://instagram.com/planetperri

Learn more about our studio:

https://verahouse.co

This podcast is produced by ⁠Vera House⁠ — a creative club and media studio based in Richmond, Virginia. Our studio exists to champion creative expression, elevate culture, and produce high-impact content for founders, makers, and modern brands in Richmond.

Cast: https://verahouse.buzzsprout.com