Loretto Chapel
DETAILS:
Location: 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe NM 85701 (in the heart of Santa Fe’s historic downtown area)
Hours of Operation: Daily (except Christmas) 9AM to 5PM
Parking: Metered street parking available near the chapel.
Cost: $5 (credit cards accepted)
Time Commitment: 30 minutes to 1 hour.
MISC:
The Loretto Chapel hosts various events, so please check their schedule on their website (provided below under “resources”) before visiting.
Completed in 1878, the Loretto Chapel (originally known as The Chapel of Our Lady of Light) was commissioned by the Sisters of Loretto to help educate girls living in the territory. Patterned after a Parisian chapel, its gothic architecture must have been a singular attraction amid its adobe-style neighborhood. Built with a lofted choir platform, the chapel’s original architect died before he could complete a stairway to access it. Even more peculiar, a traditional stairway would not have been practical given the chapel's small size and the loft's height. This would have theoretically taken up most of the interior.
As legend has it, the Sisters of Loretto ritually prayed for a solution for nine days (a “novena”) to St. Joseph; the Patron Saint of Carpenters. A mysterious carpenter appeared on the ninth day, offering to build a staircase for the sisters. Using simple tools on wood not familiar to the area, the carpenter worked alone until he erected a spiral staircase that seemingly defied the laws of physics (a railing was installed later). Upon finishing, the carpenter asked for no compensation and left as mysteriously as he appeared. Despite the sisters’ best efforts to discover the identity of the carpenter, the man was never found or heard from again. Whether or not this legend of the “Miraculous Stairway” is true, the Loretto Chapel is a must-see destination when visiting Santa Fe.
RESOURCES:
Loretto Chapel website.
