The chapel was inspired and commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had been inspired in 1932 by the newly constructed Empire State Building to build such a church. After an attempt to do so in Budapest, Hungary – with the help of Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright – was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II, she decided to build the church in her native region.[1]

The chapel's design is by architect August K. Strotz, and the project architect was Richard Hein,[2] both of the Anshen & Allen firm.[3] The chapel is built on Coconino National Forest land; Senator Barry Goldwater assisted Staude in obtaining a special-use permit.[4] The construction supervisor was Fred Coukos of the William Simpson Construction Company,[5] who built the chapel in 18 months at a cost of $300,000. Upwards of 25 tons of rock was moved without the use of dynamite.[4] The chapel was completed in 1956.[4]

 

The interior of the chapel

The American Institute of Architects gave the Chapel its Award of Honor in 1957.[6] In the sculptor's words, "Though Catholic in faith, as a work of art the Chapel has a universal appeal. Its doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed, that God may come to life in the souls of all men and be a living reality."[6]

In 2007, Arizonans voted the chapel to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona.[7]