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Loretto Chapel Staircase

May 2, 2022

The Loretto Chapel Staircase is a calming and curious must-see attraction in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico with a wonderous story full of literal twists and turns.

The first Gothic structure built west of the Mississippi, the chapel was inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Construction began in 1873 and was completed in 1878. Somehow in its initial design, builders did not include a way to access the choir loft 22 feet above the main level. This is just one of many oddities surrounding its history. 

According to stories passed down through the Sisters of the Chapel, the sisters prayed to St. Joseph to help resolve this problem.

In case you’re feeling rusty on your Saint trivia (me too), St. Joseph was a father figure to Jesus. He was also said to be the Virgin Mary’s husband and a carpenter.

So after nine days of prayer, the story goes that a man arrived at the chapel seeking work. Many months later, this man completed the Loretto Chapel Staircase and departed without seeking any compensation.

Religious recounting aside, the staircase is a truly beautiful work of art and craftsmanship that for over a century has drawn visitors from around the world. 

Consisting of two complete 360-degree spirals that rise 23.5 feet from the floor to the choir loft, its lack of a center support and other curious details of the design have perpetuated as evidence of its miraculous nature.

There are 33 steps - the age Jesus was said to be at his crucifixion. The carpenter only used wooden pegs and no nails or glue of any kind. The actual species of wood went unidentified for many years. The lack of a traditional support column makes it look like the staircase defies normal laws of physics. 

The Loretto Chapel Staircase epic has become perhaps somewhat demystified in recent years after some of its details were further scrutinized. 

Historian Mary J. Straw Cook published a book “Loretto: The Sisters and Their Santa Fe Chapel” in 2002 that she had uncovered the real carpenter of the staircase to be ​​François-Jean Rochas. According to Cook, a man named Rochas was documented as being paid for wood in an 1881 record book kept by the nuns. She also found an 1895 newspaper article referring to Rochas as an expert in woodworking and the original craftsman behind the Loretto chapel staircase.

Master carpenters have also cited that while it is a truly unique structure that would be challenging to replicate even with today’s tools, the staircase is very much supported even if it doesn’t appear to be. The side beams running alongside the steps are what transfer weight to the floor and support the staircase as it ascends. 

The Loretto Chapel Staircase, they say, functions much like a traditional staircase, except that these support beams are twisted.

Whether you lean more on facts or faith, visiting the Loretto Chapel Staircase is entirely worth it. First, it’s a mere $5 entry fee per person over the age of 6, which is certainly hard to beat for any historical site or attraction these days. And in the stress and exhaustion of ordinary sightseeing, travel, or everyday life, it’s just a serene and beautiful place to escape to for a moment.

An audio loop replays the history as visitors quietly stroll in and out of the small chapel, some taking a few photographs, kneeling in prayer, or just sitting in an empty pew to take it all in or perhaps reflect.

Article and Images by Elaine Skylar Neal / Travels and Curiosities

More curious places and things to do in New Mexico

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Image Credits and References:

Loretto Chapel Staircase images - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; Trail Ridge Road - Elaine Skylar Neal/Travels and Curiosities; for Pinterest Pin credits, please click on the respective pin

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