Free Self-Guided Tour
Discover the rich history, sacred art, and inspiring stories behind Saint Mary’s Basilica. This free self-guided tour document includes background on the basilica’s founding, key figures, and a legend for the stained-glass windows, statues, and other artistic features. Click [here] to explore the basilica at your own pace.
Group Tour – St. Mary’s Basilica Experience: Art, Architecture & Legacy
St. Mary’s Basilica invites you to experience a guided one-hour tour like no other.
For just $15 per adult (children 17 and under are $5), you’ll be immersed in the sacred beauty and rich history of this cherished spiritual home. As incense fills the air and the majestic organ plays, an experienced tour guide will lead you through:
- The breathtaking stained glass windows, intricate woodwork, and timeless architecture
- The inspiring history of St. Mary’s Basilica and its profound impact on the city of Phoenix
- The story of St. Pope John Paul II’s historic visit
- Exclusive access to areas not open to the public
*A $150 minimum (10 adults) is required to schedule a guided tour. For inquiries, please contact Jose Reyes
History – From Adobe to Basilica: The Journey of St. Mary’s
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—commonly known as St. Mary’s Basilica—is the oldest Catholic parish in Phoenix, and was the only one until 1924. That is where the title “Mother Church of Phoenix” comes from—since it birthed all the other Catholic churches around it. It is also the second-oldest church in Phoenix, following the First Presbyterian Church, established in 1879.
St. Mary’s began in 1872, when priests from Florence, Arizona, traveled by buggy every three months to celebrate Mass in the home of Mr. Jesus Otero at First Avenue and Washington Street. In 1880, construction began on a permanent adobe church at Third and Monroe Streets under the guidance of Rev. Edouard Gerard, the first priest ordained in Arizona. The church was completed and dedicated by Bishop Salpointe on June 24, 1881.
By 1902, the original adobe church required major repairs. Under Fr. Novatus Benzing, O.F.M., construction began on a new church in two phases. The basement, designed to serve as a temporary worship space, was dedicated on February 11, 1903, under the patronage of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Bishop Henri Granjon of Tucson. The architects included Br. Adrian Wewer, O.F.M., Br. Leonard Darched, O.F.M., and local architects R.A. Gray and George Gallagher.
The second phase began in July 1913, with construction awarded to W.J. Rifley. The upper church was built in the Mission Revival style, with a Romanesque interior, and remains a striking architectural and spiritual landmark. It also features Arizona’s largest collection of stained glass windows and a magnificent 26-rank pipe organ.
St. Mary’s has received numerous honors:
- Named a historic site by the Arizona Historical Society (1976)
- Added to the State Inventory of Historic Places (1977)
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1978)
On September 2, 1985, Pope Saint John Paul II elevated the church to the status of Minor Basilica, recognizing its historical and spiritual significance. During his 1987 visit to Phoenix, the Holy Father prayed in the center aisle and addressed the faithful from the church balcony—an unforgettable moment in the life of the parish.
In 1993, the people of Phoenix voted St. Mary’s a “Point of Pride”, affirming its place as a cherished spiritual and cultural treasure in the heart of the city.
For a fuller account of St. Mary’s Basilica click [HERE], or consider purchasing “A History of St. Mary’s Basilica” by Warren J. Rouse.
Adobe Church
Fr Novatus and Altar Boys
St. Mary’s Dedication Day, 1915