This blog post comes courtesy of Danielle Keperling at Keperling Preservation Services. Located in Lancaster, PA, Keperling Preservation Services is a historic preservation and restoration company specializing in the restoration of 18th, 19th, and early 20th-century buildings. They offer a whole-house approach to restoration with a custom millwork and cabinet shop. They are nationally acclaimed preservation contractors trusted by homeowners, general contractors, and the National Park Service to repair, protect, and preserve our nation’s historic architecture. They can provide everything to accurately restore a building. They also offer hands-on classes in woodworking and building preservation to help keep the traditional trades alive.
Swastikas in Architecture
Have you ever noticed a swastika as an architectural detail? Before you gather the mob and bring out the pitchforks, know that before World War II, the swastika was used widely across various cultures and was not associated with the negative connotations it later gained. Its origins go back thousands of years, and it has been seen as a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and spiritual significance in many different societies.
In ancient times, the swastika was common in the art and architecture of cultures across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For example, in Hinduism and Buddhism, the symbol was associated with peace, luck, and the sun. In ancient Greece, it appeared on pottery and was seen as a symbol of life or eternity. It was also present in early Christian art and was often used as a symbol of the cross.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the swastika saw a resurgence in Europe, particularly in Germany. It was used in art, architecture, and design, often as a symbol of good luck and vitality, long before its adoption by the Nazi Party. For instance, it appeared on buildings, public monuments, and various decorative items. Its use was promoted by the Arts and Crafts movement and also linked to ideas about national pride and cultural revival in various countries.
In architecture, the swastika was often used as a decorative motif in tiles, mosaic patterns, and even on the facades of buildings, especially in the United States and Europe. It was seen as a geometric pattern that conveyed harmony, balance, and continuity.
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1864 Map of the City of Lancaster, PennsylvaniaPrice range: $21.99 through $25.99
Unfortunately, after the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime in the 1930s, the swastika’s meaning was permanently altered. The Nazis co-opted the symbol, associating it with their ideology of racial purity and aggression. This transformation dramatically changed how the symbol was perceived, and it has been almost exclusively associated with hatred and violence ever since.
But before this, the swastika had a very different connotation. It was a symbol of positivity, deeply ingrained in many cultures long before it became the emblem of the Nazi Party.
Have you noticed this architectural feature? There are several buildings in and around Lancaster with this in the tiles. Look down as you are going into buildings, and you may notice them like this downtown Lancaster business entryway tile.
Update
After reading the article, multiple people submitted images of the swastika found in architecture throughout the Susquehanna Valley. Here are some of them.
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Are we gonna make it cool to be a Nazi by glorifying this symbol of hate.
If i owned a business that had a nazi symbol i would cover it at least and replace it if i was able to. There is zero chance of buying a home with a nazi symbol on the fireplace.
‘its our heritage man’ is the language of divisive racist symbology of the Dixie flag. Can we skip the ‘oh but this is interesting heritage before the nazis took over’ part of making people OK with a swastika?
The Hamilton Club needs to fix some things. Nothing a gallon of paint can’t fix. stop trying to make it OK to be a nazi at worst or make other ppl uncomfortable with your passivity towards creeping nazism.
why not reclaim it for the good it used to mean before Hitler made it evil we give Hitler and Nazi too much power. So many things that meant good now mean bad thumbs up is racists ok is racist and the Swastika which for over 1000 years meant good fortune. We need to stop giving the power to the evil and give it back to the good. and any “Swastika” shape made before 1920s would probably not be Nazi. it was used by many groups as good things the fist provable historic use was in Eurasia, as early as 7,0000 years ago representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day, it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Odinism. It is a common sight on temples or houses in India or Indonesia. it was also used by indigenous peoples in what is now the USA in the Southwest, Navajo and Hopi associated it with the “Whirling Log,” a sacred image used in healing rituals, and the hopi to symbolize the wandering Hopi clans or migration patterns. swastika-like symbol was also found in the art and crafts of other tribes, including the Pima and Maricopa, who wove them into baskets and painted them on pottery. so why do we give these symbles over to evil power because Hilter used it for evil for a short time when its meant good for over 7000 years? doesn’t that give evil more power then good?
Funny how so many people jump at the chance to defend stuff which will forever be linked to antisemitism.
Musk made that into an art form.
I disagree with your assumption and analogy. No one said it was OK to be a Nazi, in fact the post discusses the history before the symbol was co-opted by Hilter in the 1930s. No one said that we should emulate or celebrate Nazism or hate in any form. Ignoring the background and history benefits no one.
Your example of the Confederate flag and Heritage, Not Hate is not the same. Historically that was (and is) a symbol of a group of people willing to commit treason and wage war to keep other people enslaved. There was no alternate history in which the symbolism changed.
I believe there is a swastika on the floor of St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster and also the Pennsylvania State Capitol building. These floor tiles were made by Henry Mercer of Doylestown.