Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona, is one of the American Southwest's most architecturally striking religious sites — a Roman Catholic chapel built directly into a twin-pinnacle sandstone formation, rising 250 feet above the surrounding red rock landscape. The chapel was conceived by sculptor and patron Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had been inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architectural philosophy in the 1930s. After years of planning, the chapel was completed in 1956 and consecrated as a mission of the Diocese of Phoenix. The building's defining feature is an enormous 90-foot reinforced concrete cross that dominates the south facade, integrated with the vertical sandstone rock faces on either side so the structure reads as an extension of the natural formation rather than an imposition upon it. The interior is spare and meditative — rough concrete walls, a polished travertine floor, and glass wall sections framing views of the red rock formations and the Verde Valley below. Visitors of all faiths are welcome; the chapel is open for prayer and quiet reflection throughout the day. The approach road winds uphill through juniper and chaparral for approximately half a mile from AZ-179, ending at a small parking area with dramatic views over the red rock basin toward Cathedral Rock. Because the parking lot holds fewer than 30 vehicles, careful timing or use of Sedona's Verde Lynx shuttle service is recommended during peak hours. From the parking area, a short, level path leads to the main chapel entrance and an exterior terrace with panoramic views that many visitors find as compelling as the interior itself. No admission is charged.