There are only four nationally recognized historic places in the Sedona area.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross, a popular landmark in the community, became one of the nation’s newest listings on the National Register of Historic Places, joining three similar landmarks in the Sedona area.
Built between 1955 and 1956 for Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who commissioned the structure as a tribute to her parents, the chapel currently belongs to the parish of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. The church has maintained the property since 1969. The landmark cost approximately $300,000 to build at the time. It was designated a Local Historic Landmark by the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission in 2008.
Other Sedona landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Hummingbird House, Jordan Historical Park and the Sedona Ranger Station.
City of Sedona Associate Planner Kathy Levin said plans are under way for a public event to coincide with Arizona’s centennial celebration in 2012. Those plans have yet to be fleshed out, however.
“We haven’t organized that yet. We were anticipating that it might get listed this month, and it did. It took two years, but we won’t be discussing what our special celebration plans are until the Historic Preservation Commission meets again in December,” Levin said.
“That will be on our agenda then, and we will discuss the scope,” Levin said. “It’s quite a recognition, and we’re really pleased it finally happened.”
Chuck Reaume, administrator for the Chapel of the Holy Cross, said the landmark is the second-most-visited location in Sedona, behind Tlaquepaque. He was happy to learn of the chapel’s recent designation.
“It’s very nice and a really big honor for the chapel,” Reaume said. “People visit from all faiths. We’re very fortunate to have something this beautiful and this spiritual in our city.”
The chapel offers a prayer service Monday evenings at 5 p.m.
“Basically, that’s the only service, because there are just too many people,” Reaume said. “We probably get 1,000 requests a year for weddings, but it would interfere with the spirituality and for the people who come from all over the world to visit there.”
The Chapel of the Holy Cross is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 365 days a year, Reaume said.
“We used to close on specific holidays, but there are too many people who come from all over the world, and it’s not fair to them, so we stay open,” Reaume said.
