Loretto staircase, Spiral staircase in Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, United States
The Loretto staircase is a wooden spiral structure in a chapel located in Santa Fe that makes two complete rotations over roughly 20 feet in height. It contains 33 steps joined without a central support pole or nails, displaying an unusual construction method.
The staircase was built in 1878 after French architects completed the Gothic Revival chapel, serving to connect the ground floor to the choir area above. It has remained part of this building ever since its completion.
The staircase has become deeply tied to local legend and draws visitors who want to see a symbol of exceptional craftsmanship firsthand. People come to observe the refined woodwork and unusual construction that speaks to a period of skilled hands and careful design.
The site is located within an active house of worship that now functions as a museum open to visitors and sits easily accessible on Old Santa Fe Trail. Visit during daylight hours when natural light streams through the windows, allowing you to see the construction details clearly.
The wood used to build the staircase does not come from the local area and its exact origin remains mysterious. This mystery, combined with the use of wooden pegs instead of nails for fastening, makes the structure puzzling even today.
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