Elks Tower

Elks Tower
The Tower from 11th Street in 2007
LocationSacramento, California
Coordinates38°34′48″N 121°29′29″W
Built1926[1]
ArchitectLeonard J. Starks
Architectural style(s)Italian Renaissance
Location of Elks Tower in California

Overview

Elks Tower is a building located in Sacramento, California, built in the style of the Italian Renaissance. It stands fourteen stories tall and is home to a transmitter for the KZAP free-form radio station. At the time of its construction, it not only was a home for the Elks, it also had approximately 100 hotel rooms, and a storefront.[2] The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the group which commissioned the building is a fraternal order founded in 1868.

History

Early History

This led to the construction of a new, 226-foot-tall Elks Temple, built out of brick and steel, located at the northeast corner of 11th and J street. It was dedicated as the home of Sacramento Elks Lodge No. 6 on June twenty-second, 1926.

Walter Hicks on the new Lodge

“I am not proud because we built higher, not proud because we built bigger, but proud because we have build a temple to Elkdome in the city of Sacramento, which already is becoming the topic of conversation wherever Elks congregate and which before long will be instrumental in placing the name of Sacramento on the lips of nearly every Elk throughout the nation.”sic

Late 1960s

In 1968, the 13th floor of the building became home to the newly created radio station, KRXQ, which was a free-form FM radio station.

Amenities & Configuration of the building during the late 60s
FloorContents
Basementsteam room
Ground Floorexercise room
Second Floorballroom & main dining room
Third FloorLodge and reading room
Fourth Floormeetingroom, billiards area, and game room

Current Use

The Elks Tower is now a venue which can be booked for events, such as weddings and parties.[3] In 2019, Steve Ayers; the current owner of the building at the time requested a reconsideration of a gambling licence for a cardroom at Elk's Tower which was ultimately denied by the California Gambling Control Commission.[4][5]

Radio Station

The Elks Tower has been home to a transmitter for the KZAP free-form radio station since the late sixties. KZAP plays a variety of music such as blues and classic rock.[6] Their motto is "Rockin' the classic hits."[6][7]

Further Reading & References

See also

References
  1. "Elks Tower Sacramento: Downtown Sacramento meeting rooms, prom destinations, wedding reception venue and banquet facilities". Archived from the original on 2012-09-27. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  2. "Sacramento J and K Street Commercial Corridor Walking Tour" (PDF). Sacramento Heritage, INC.
  3. The Elks Tower. Bacon Grease Labs https://www.elkstower.com/. Retrieved 10 April 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. Hamann, Emily. "Elks Tower owner sues gambling commission over denied license". Sacramento Business Journal. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  5. Young, Harrison. "Owner of Elks Tower Takes California Gambling Watchdog to Court over Rejected Card Room License Application". Casino Games Pro. Casino Games Pro. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. "KZAP". KZAP. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "KRXQ CA USA". FCC FM Query. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 4 May 2020.


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