In 1988, Phoenix city voters approved $7 million in funds to restore the old rundown Orpheum Theatre, and the Orpheum Theatre Foundation was founded to raise the balance. Since none of the bond funds or monies raised included an organ project, the Valley of the Sun Chapter dedicated itself to purchasing, assembling, rebuilding, and installing the finest Wurlitzer possible. The restoration provided much larger chambers and doubled the size of the swell shade openings, thus allowing the new organ to expand to its present size of 30 ranks. Among the parts collected is a pair of 1948 Aeolian Skinner Violes from the Tabernacle organ in Salt Lake City, an Austin Horn Diapason and Principal from the Solo division of the Los Angeles Philharmonic organs, and a Wurlitzer three-manual console from the Paramount Theatre in Middletown NY.

Some of the instrument has ties with Arizona's theatre organ history. The Flute Celeste is the Concert Flute from Phoenix's Fox Theatre.

The organ has over 2000 wind blown pipes as well as actual percussion instruments hidden from view behind two grills immediately in front of and on either side of the proscenium. The organ is played from a computer equipped console consisting of three keyboards, a pedalboard, and over 300 stop tabs. The organ has been a part of many events at the Orpheum and is currently being featured in the current season of the Silent Sundays series of silent films.