Mount Carmel as of 1926

Looking up the slope of Mount Carmel, circa 1926. The Holy Tomb of the Bab and 'Abdu'l-Baha is seen behind the large white building in center. 

(The Baha'i World 1926-1928)

Another view of the Sacred Shrine as seen from the main street of Haifa leading up to the terraces below the Tomb 

(The Baha'i World 1926-1928)

Heart of the Planet

The World Center of the Faith located in Israel “geographically, spiritually and administratively, constitutes the heart of the entire planet..” 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘Messages to America’; ‘The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I’)

Religious Temples should be viewed as symbols of the divine uniting force

Among the institutes of the Holy Books is that of the foundation of places of worship. That is to say, an edifice or temple is to be built in order that humanity might find a place of meeting, and this is to be conducive to unity and fellowship among them. The real temple is the very Word of God; for to it all humanity must turn, and it is the center of unity for all mankind. It is the collective center, the cause of accord and communion of hearts, the sign of the solidarity of the human race, the source of eternal life. Temples are the symbols of the divine uniting force so that when the people gather there in the House of God they may recall the fact that the law has been revealed for them and that the law is to unite them. They will realize that just as this temple was founded for the unification of mankind, the law preceding and creating it came forth in the manifest Word. Jesus Christ, addressing Peter, said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." This utterance was indicative of the faith of Peter, signifying: This faith of thine, O Peter, is the very cause and message of unity to the nations; it shall be the bond of union between the hearts of men and the foundation of the oneness of the world of humanity.

1930s: Memorial to the King of the Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs, Isfahan, Iran

(The Baha'i World 1946-1950)