[2] It is also "considered to be the world's most complete man-made collection of minerals, fossils, shells, and petrifications in one place.

[3][6][7] It includes a museum with precious and semiprecious stones from throughout the world, and photos and artifacts about the construction of the shrine.

[8] He became critically ill with pneumonia and promised to build a shrine to the Virgin Mary if she interceded for him.

[12] The Grotto covered an area the size of a city block when Dobberstein died in 1954.

The Grotto of the Redemption is featured in the David Lynch film The Straight Story.