Loretto Chapel | Santa Fe

Loretto Chapel, nestled just southeast of Santa Fe Plaza, is one of the city’s most enchanting landmarks - a small Gothic Revival church celebrated for its serene beauty and the mystery of its “Miraculous Staircase.” Completed in the 1870s, the chapel combines European architectural elegance with a story of faith, craftsmanship, and wonder that continues to captivate visitors from around the world.

Setting and Atmosphere

The chapel stands quietly on the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail, surrounded by adobe buildings and shaded courtyards. Unlike Santa Fe’s typical Pueblo-style architecture, Loretto Chapel’s pointed arches, stained glass windows, and slender spire recall the Gothic churches of France. Its sandstone façade, softened by years of sunlight and desert dust, glows warmly in the afternoon light.

Inside, the atmosphere is hushed and luminous. Colored light filters through French stained glass, painting soft patterns on the wooden pews. The space is intimate - built to seat only a few dozen worshippers - yet feels airy, almost ethereal. Every detail, from the carved altar rail to the delicate ceiling ribs, reflects meticulous craftsmanship.

Historical Background

Loretto Chapel was built between 1873 and 1878 by the Sisters of Loretto, a Catholic order of nuns who had come from Kentucky to establish a girls’ school in Santa Fe. They commissioned the chapel to resemble Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, reflecting their European faith heritage. French architect Antoine Mouly and his son, Projectus Mouly, oversaw the design, employing local materials and workers to realize the ambitious Gothic style in adobe country.

When the building neared completion, the nuns discovered a serious problem - the choir loft, located high above the nave, had no staircase and no room for a conventional one. They prayed for a solution, and according to legend, a mysterious carpenter appeared, offering to build the staircase.

The Miraculous Staircase

The result was an architectural marvel that still stirs fascination today. The spiral staircase rises in two full 360-degree turns, without any central support - an engineering feat that puzzled architects and engineers for decades.

Crafted entirely of wooden pegs, no nails, and made from an unknown type of wood not native to the region, the staircase seems to float in midair. Its elegant curvature and perfect balance give it both aesthetic grace and structural mystery.

After completing the work, the carpenter is said to have vanished without payment or identification, leading the Sisters to believe their prayers had been answered by St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

Modern analysis has shown that the structure’s strength comes from a concealed central spiral and the precise fit of its joints, but its craftsmanship remains extraordinary for the period - especially considering it was built by hand, in isolation, without modern tools.

Artistic and Architectural Details

Beyond the staircase, the chapel features exquisite French Gothic detailing, including:

Hand-painted woodwork and imported stained glass windows from the Daprato studio in France.

A marble altar and intricate Stations of the Cross carvings.

A lofty ceiling painted to resemble stone vaulting, giving an illusion of height within the small sanctuary.

The building’s modest scale enhances its intimacy - a pocket-sized cathedral amid the desert landscape.

Cultural Legacy

Deconsecrated as a Catholic church in 1971, Loretto Chapel now operates as a museum and wedding venue, preserving its spiritual and historical significance. Many couples choose to marry here, drawn by the romantic legend of the staircase and the chapel’s tranquil beauty.

It also remains a site of quiet reflection, where visitors pause before the staircase, gazing upward in awe at the craftsmanship and mystery that endure. The air inside feels touched by reverence - not in grand spectacle, but in the quiet wonder of faith and artistry intertwined.

Closing Impression

Loretto Chapel stands as a testament to devotion, ingenuity, and the enduring power of mystery. Its “miraculous” staircase remains one of Santa Fe’s most beloved treasures - a symbol of faith realized through craftsmanship so perfect it seems otherworldly. Beneath its stained glass glow, amid the hush of sandalwood and candlelight, the chapel invites visitors to believe that beauty itself can be an act of grace.