On our walking tour of Santa Fe, we went into Loretto Chapel, it is famous for its floating staircase and the mystery of how it got built (see below it is a really good story). When it was first built their was no railing, that was put in later. But it still makes for an amazing staircase.The picture to the left is of a model of the staircase, below is the staircase decorated for the Christmas season.
The following insert was taken from: http://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.htmlTwo mysteries surround the spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel: the identity of its builder and the physics of its construction.
When the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1898, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem but they all concluded access to the loft would have to be via ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small Chapel.
Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, who came in answer to the sisters' prayers.
The stairway's carpenter, whoever he was, built a magnificent structure. The design was innovative for the time and some of the design considerations still perplex experts today.
The staircase has two 360 degree turns and has no visible means of support.
The staircase has two 360 degree turns and has no visible means of support.
Also, it is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs. Questions also surround the number of stair risers compared to the height of the choir loft and about the types of wood and other materials used in the stairway's construction.
another neat website about the stairs can be found at: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/loretto.asp
and if this blog got you thinking about creative staircases check out this site:http://deputy-dog.com/2007/11/05/9-creative-staircases/7/11/05/9-creative-staircases/
Outside the chapel was a tree that had been cut down, and the following tribute was carved from the trunk of the tree to the person who built the stairway.
8 comments:
Oh cool! I've heard of that staircase! It's beautiful. I also love the one with the drawers! How creative.
What an interesting post and the staircase is a marvel. I think the tribute to the carpenter which was cut out of the tree is great.
Believe it or not, I have heard that story before and enjoyed reading about it again. It's amazing!
Hope you are having a good day.
I have never heard of that amazing and beautiful staircase, and I loved reading about it! :)
I love the staircase-what a great story.
I always feel like I can learn something when I read your blog. :)
I had heard or read about that staircase before - beautiful story though isn't it? Loved seeing the photo of the staircase all decorated for Christmas and I could just imagine how inspiring it would be to see it "up close and personal" ya know. Face to face I suppose you could say.
I had never heard of that staircase - thanks so much for sharing. And, as a photogrpahy nut, I think your photos are wonderful. You can "feel" them and that makes them art.
My SIL has a floating staircase but nothing as elegant as this, just goes up like a regular staircase sans the railing. This is beautiful...I bet it was even more so to see it in person!
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