The Miraculous Staircase in Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“You must visit Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe,” said our friend when they heard we planned a trip to Albuquerque and Santa Fe for the summer.

“It’s a beautiful church with a miraculous staircase. That’s where our son got married,” she continued.

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After I googled it, I knew I had to put Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe for our Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico trip itinerary. It is one of the old churches in Santa Fe that you must visit.

Loretto Chapel Santa Fe: a Church or a Museum?

The name reflects Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe as a church. But what was a Roman Catholic Church today is used as a museum and a wedding chapel.

Loretto Chapel is known for its unusual spiral staircase. It has two 360 degrees turns and no visible means of support. The architect didn’t use nails when building this spiral staircase. He only used wooden pegs.

The History of the Miraculous Staircase in Loretto Chapel

When they built Loretto Chapel in 1878, there was no access to the choir loft, which was twenty-two feet above. I found it a bit weird.

Then the Sisters of the Chapel asked carpenters around for solutions. Everyone said it needed a ladder, as a staircase would interfere with the interior of this small Chapel.

Then they made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. They were looking for the answer and help.

On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work.

He started the job and completed the staircase to the choir loft. But the carpenter disappeared without pay and thanks once he completed the job.

The Sisters searched for the man with no trace, and some believed that he was St. Joseph the carpenter himself, having come in answer to the sisters’ prayers.

The Beautiful Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe

Like most churches built in the 1800s, Loretto Chapel has a Gothic architectural style. When I walked into the chapel, I felt like I walked into one of the buildings in Gotham City. Once inside, I felt peaceful in the room.

The miraculous staircase stood magnificently at the back of the chapel.
Visitors stand around the staircase or sit on the pew looking at the spiral staircase. Some were looking for nails, while some were fascinated by their miracle.

People also lit candles and said their prayers.

The stained glasses added a touch of beauty to this chapel. No wonder it is one of the favorite places for a wedding in Santa Fe.

Even though it doesn’t function as a church anymore, everybody kept their voices low to respect others who came for a quiet time.

Tips for visiting Loretto Chapel:

• The Chapel may close without notice for special events; call ahead to see if it’s open on the day of your visit.
• Visit when they open in the morning to beat the crowd.
• You can only see the staircase; you can’t climb it.

Loretto Chapel Hours:

Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Closed on Christmas Day.

A visit to Loretto Chapel doesn’t take much of your time. You must check out these 55 things to do in Santa Fe to make your visit to town more fun and memorable.

Loretto Chapel admission fee:

Adult admission is $5.
Senior 65 and over: $4.
Youth 7-17: $3.
Children under 7: Free.

When the Loretto Academy closed in 1968, the Sisters of Loretto offered the chapel to the archdiocese. They declined the offer, so the Sisters sold the chapel to a private entity. The new owners restored the chapel and have been caring for it until today. It is now a museum and relies heavily on the generosity of visitors to provide long-term conservation of its architectural, cultural, and spiritual legacy.

Loretto Chapel Gift Shop

Next to the chapel is the Loretto Chapel Gift Shop where you can find things like chapel souvenirs, rosaries, Christmas ornaments, Christmas decorations with New Mexico designs, home decorations, Christian jewelry, and other religious items.

Address: 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 982-0092.

Wedding Information: Call (505) 982-0092. Email weddings@lorettochapel.com

Hotels near Loretto Chapel Santa Fe New Mexico

Here are a few hotels that are within one to two blocks of Loretto Chapel:

– Inn & Spa at Loretto right next to the chapel.

– La Fonda on the Plaza, near Santa Fe Plaza, three blocks from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and four blocks from Canyon Road’s galleries.   

– El Sendero Inn is two minutes walk from the Loretto Chapel and ten minute walk from Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

You will need to drive to Loretto Chapel when staying at one of these hotels:

– Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, offering views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

– Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe. The art-filled hotel features original artwork and custom furniture by Chimayo artists and craftspeople.

– Inn of the Governors. Two blocks from Loretto Chapel and three blocks from Santa Fe Plaza. It’s still a walking distance.