At the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail, just five miles from the Best Western Inn of Santa Fe hotel, stands the Loretto Chapel. Inside the Gothic structure is the staircase referred to as miraculous, inexplicable, marvelous and is sometimes called St. Joseph’s Staircase. The stairway confounds architects, engineers and master craftsmen. It makes over two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20’ tall and has no center support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails.
This glorious Gothic-Revival style chapel was completed in 1878 and modeled after King Louis IX's Sainte Chapelle in Paris. The church was built for the Sisters of the Loretto, who established a school in Santa Fe in 1853. According to legend, St. Joseph the Carpenter had a role in the building of the chapel's Miraculous Staircase, constructed between 1877 and 1881 with two 360-degree turns and no apparent means of support. Today, the church is a private museum and a popular site for wedding ceremonies.
This glorious Gothic-Revival style chapel was completed in 1878 and modeled after King Louis IX's Sainte Chapelle in Paris. The church was built for the Sisters of the Loretto, who established a school in Santa Fe in 1853. According to legend, St. Joseph the Carpenter had a role in the building of the chapel's Miraculous Staircase, constructed between 1877 and 1881 with two 360-degree turns and no apparent means of support. Today, the church is a private museum and a popular site for wedding ceremonies.
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