The Legend of Loretto

Did Divine Providence play a key role in Santa Fe's historic Loretto Chapel? It's miraculous staircase has been a keystone of the Chapel's history for more than a century, attracting tourists from across the globe. Loretto Chapel Museum curator Richard Lindsley shares the brief history of the staircase and the three main mysteries surrounding its construction.

[@cindywisniewski5180]

St joseph the wonder worker did the stair case .the sisters got their novena miracle

[@cindywisniewski5180]

I been there 7 yrs ago with fr peter hsu from bevelle ill dioese he lived in zeigler ,ill.miracles do happen prayer is faith and miracles .ir was the st joseph the wonder worker

[@anthonywhelan5419]

My Irish father (rip) told me about this story back in the 1960s.

[@pamelaevans1738]

It was a Heavenly spruce.

[@IndyFied]

Amen

[@yvonnemorales8516]

This is the work of St Joseph himself. Sent by God. Praise him

[@judyaugustus2321]

Glory Glory Glory to FATHERSONHOLYSPIRIT DAUGHTERMOTHERSPOUSE and ST.JOSEPH through this

[@anitamcginnis8028]

St. Joseph was a carpenter... Was the railing later added on for the students' safety?

[@ChadyBonTV]

Yes, according to the Loretto Chapel website, the railings were added approximately 10 years after the staircase was built. Many of the sisters and students were too terrified to ascend the staircase without it.

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

Phillip A Hesch built the handrail. A much more difficult job than building the stair.

[@mahtoosacks]

​@jamesbaldwin7676 i did wood working for the historic homes in savannah ga for a stint. I duplicated spindles, finials, and rossettes for the houses there. These are not just standard spindles, they are an art into themselves

[@srk8360]

RUACH/Amen/AVE MARIA/🙏💐💐💐💐💐

[@pamelaevans1738]

I don't need to know who actually built the staircase. It was and is proof that miracles happen.🙏

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

No miracle and you know how I know? Because I built stuff like this and I'm no Saint. The only unusual thing about this stair, is that it rises 20 feet, which is twice as tall as a typical stair and illegal without a landing. And the builders name was Francois-Jean Rochas not Saint Joseph.

[@JacqueDooley]

@@jamesbaldwin7676 you build “staircases like that as part of your stuff??” Without glue or nails? Where is your advertising? I went to high school there. I went up and down those miraculous stairs when we sang in choir for Mass. I graduated from Loretto Academy for Girls. I would be so interested in how you examined the stairs and how you came up with your findings, as would other experts and scientists who studied the construction, materials and lack of some materials (nails, bracing, etc.). I’m sure you know all of that.

[@jamesbaldwin7676]

@@JacqueDooley I do know all that because It was my business to know all that. I'm retired now but you can still check me out if you like. Google "Jim Baldwin Stairs" or "Jim Baldwin tangent handrail" I also collected out-of-print, 19th Century stair building books and manuals, one of which describes in detail (with plans) the construction of a free-standing, double-helix spiral and it's balustrade. I've also visited the Loretto Chapel stair (among several others) as part of my own education. The fact that you grew-up there is interesting, but that only means you're were immersed in the folklore of the place all your life. I grew-up with my wood working Grandfather, who was working fulltime by the age of twelve as an apprentice and being trained by 19th Century craftsmen.

[@rockyfrankham3849]

😂

[@rockyfrankham3849]

To me it looks like he pissed off before the job was finished and someone else put the railing on

[@mitmitization]

I put my money 💰 on Saint Joseph! 🔨

[@louiseboivin1524]

True !! Not a legend !!!

[@jeffreythompson8724]

Here because of barstool

[@TomorrowisYesterday]

So it MUSTa come from ALIENS. Duh duh duh….