After ascending and descending to The Cross Of The Martyrs we made a brief stop in Santa Fe Plaza where we refueled and finally got some sunblock from the local Five & Dime.  Once we were rejuvenated and better protected from the sun’s beastly ultra-violet rays, we moved on to our next stop…

The Loretto Chapel.

What is so “special” about The Loretto Chapel is its reported Miraculous Staircase.  Apparently in 1872 the architect of the chapel died before completing his designs and a method for the sisters to reach the choir loft.  A regular staircase would have been intrusive to the small chapel, and using a ladder as men would do was not the best idea for the nuns or their all female student body from the associated Loretto Academy.  Legend has it that the nuns prayed a novena to St. Joseph (aka Jesus‘ stepfather, you know the one, the carpenter), and on the day after the novena had concluded a mysterious carpenter showed up who built them a double helix staircase without the use of nails or screws…

You’ll notice in the photo on the left above that there is an iron brace coming from a solid beam next to the staircase.  Both the iron brace and solid beam were apparently added in the 1980’s because the stability of the staircase caused by deterioration and use was called into question.  The craftsmanship is quite impressive considering the time in which it was built.  I was also very impressed by the presentation in the now defunct chapel.  There was a narration by both a man and a woman telling the entire story of the staircase and the chapel with some very soothing background music.  It was such a great experience that it inspired me…

… to get my picture taken throwing gang signs.  That’s M for Miraculous, bitches.

Another thing that impressed me?  The staircase was featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries!  I LOVE that show!  Robert Stack was the bomb!

Of course, the internet has their own wisdom about the Miraculous Staircase at The Loretto Chapel.