The Cotton Exchange was long a symbol of the importance of the cotton industry to the city of Savannah. The building on Bay Street was originally called King Cotton’s Palace and because of its Romanesque architectural style it stood out among the other buildings nearby. Today the historic building is a Solomon’s Masonic Lodge and is open to the public on special occasions. Visitors to the Central River Street area can enjoy the splendid view of the exterior of the building and the griffin, a winged lion of mythology that stands in front surrounded by a fence with medallions of poets and presidents.