The Beautiful Temple with Mary Landes (we have ghosts) | Second Life of a Community Lodge

Oct 26

2 min read

Mary Landes is the executive director of the Temple in Salina, Kansas, and a longtime Salinan with a passion for community building, entrepreneurship, and preserving historic spaces. After growing up in Salina and attending Bethany College, Mary spent years living in communities across the country, including Iowa City, Columbia, Missouri, Philadelphia, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Her experiences exposed her to new ideas about community, collaboration, and the potential of historic buildings.

Inspired by a collaborative coworking space she encountered in Connecticut, Mary returned to Salina with a vision for creating a similar environment in her hometown. In 2013, she began working to save the former Masonic Temple, a grand historic building that had fallen into disrepair and faced an uncertain future. Through a grassroots effort, Mary helped establish a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and repurposing the building, transforming it into a vibrant hub for entrepreneurs, artists, small businesses, nonprofits, and community events. Her work has helped countless people pursue their ideas, grow their businesses, and find a supportive place to build something of their own.

Today, Mary continues to lead efforts to restore and improve the Temple as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027. From expanding accessibility to creating new opportunities for the building to serve the community, she remains committed to ensuring the Temple has a future as meaningful as its past. Known for her optimism, generosity, and belief in the potential of others, Mary embodies the spirit of community-driven revitalization and demonstrates how one person's vision can help bring people together and breathe new life into a treasured Kansas landmark. Click to expand