The Architecture of Reverence
The Temple Vision
A solar pyramid rising from the Arizona desert — its apex aligned to the solstice sunrise, its interior a sanctuary of light and reflection. This is what Charles D. Poston dreamed. This is what we intend to build.
The Design
A Pyramid for the Desert Sun
The Poston Sun Temple will be a true pyramid — four triangular faces of native stone rising to house a beam of light directly through the entrance and into the worship chamber at the heart of the structure.
Inside, a circular chamber provides a contemplative space for reflection and ceremony. The walls will bear inscriptions from Poston's own writings alongside passages from the Zoroastrian Avesta — the ancient texts that inspired his vision.
The temple will sit on an envisioned hill in the American South-West, visible from the surrounding desert — a landmark that announces itself to the horizon as Poston always imagined it would.
What the Temple Will Be
Solar-Aligned Pyramid Exterior
The pyramid's apex and entrance are oriented to the solstice sunrise — so that on the longest day of the year, the first light of dawn enters the temple and illuminates the worship chamber within.
Interior Worship Chamber
Inside the pyramid, a contemplative circular chamber provides a space for reflection, meditation, and ceremony. Open to visitors of all backgrounds and beliefs — a sacred space for anyone who wishes to honor the light.
Zoroastrian Solar Symbolism
Inspired by Poston's embrace of Zoroastrianism — the ancient Persian faith that venerates fire and the sun as symbols of truth and divine light — the temple's design weaves solar motifs throughout its architecture.
Desert Stone Construction
The temple will be built from native Arizona stone, rising naturally from the desert landscape as if it has always been there — a monument that belongs to the land as much as to history.
Educational & Historical Site
The temple grounds will include interpretive exhibits about Poston's life, Arizona's territorial history, and the Zoroastrian tradition — making it a destination for students, historians, and curious visitors.
A Living Monument
Unlike a statue or a plaque, the Poston Sun Temple will be a place you can enter, sit inside, and experience. A monument that breathes with the desert around it.
The Road to Breaking Ground
Phase 1
Site Selection & Planning
Identify and secure the ideal site in the American South-West. Commission architectural drawings.
Phase 2
Fundraising & Community
Build the donor community, secure grants, and raise the funds needed to break ground. Launch educational outreach.
Phase 3
Groundbreaking
Break ground on the pyramid foundation. Begin construction of the exterior stone structure.
Phase 4
Interior & Completion
Complete the worship chamber, install interpretive exhibits, and open the temple to the public.
Help Make This Real
The temple exists today as a vision and a plan. With your support, it will rise from the Arizona desert as Charles D. Poston always dreamed — a monument to light, history, and the human spirit.