Loretto Chapel

On Saturday, while in Santa Fe, we stopped to see the Loretto Chapel. The chapel is the first Gothic building west of the Mississippi as well as the site of a legendary spiral staircase, lacking central support. According to the story, the chapel was built without a staircase to the choir loft. When the nuns realized that they needed the staircase (rather than a ladder), they began to pray for help. On the ninth day, a stranger came and offered to build a staircase for them. He built a spiral staircase with no other support and with no railing (it was added about 10 years later). After completing the staircase, the mysterious carpenter left without even asking for payment. (See more here.)

Though I may be a bit skeptical about the miraculous origins of the staircase, it is impressive nonetheless. While the stairs are the main attraction of the chapel, the entire chapel is actually quite beautiful and is worth seeing if you ever get the chance.


Until later...