St. Joseph's Basilica was designed by San Francisco architect H. A. Minton. It is a fine example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style incorporating most of the idioms of this architectural movement and ranking high among buildings of this style in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In the spring of 1972, St. Joseph's Church was elevated to the rank of Basilica by Pope Paul VI. This made it one of four basilicas in the western United States, including Missions in San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego.

Basilicas are churches designated by the Pope as outstanding in their devotional and religious spirit, and noted for their artistic and architectural beauty and historical significance.

Adapted from the NRHP nomination.