Loretto Chapel

The Loretto Chapel was originally part of the Loretto Academy, a girls’ school. True to Gothic Revival form, it has spires, buttresses, and stained glass windows—the staircase is simply the main attraction. Held together without glue, nails, or any other hardware, it’s hard to believe a 19th-century woodworker would’ve pulled off this engineering feat; in fact, the Sisters of Loretto credit St. Joseph for its construction.

Today, the chapel serves as a museum (and frequent wedding venue), welcoming the public to gawk at its architectural delights. If you can, visit on a walking tour with a guide to get the full story behind this inexplicable site.

• An admission fee is charged at the door—children under 7 are free.
• While you can photograph the staircase, accessing the staircase is strictly prohibited.
• Public restrooms are available next door, in the lobby of the Inn at Loretto.
• Leashed dogs are welcome inside the chapel.

For those with their own vehicle, the chapel does have a parking lot that can accommodate buses, RVs, and cars. Otherwise, off-street parking is available in nearby parking lots, as is street-metered parking. Moreover, the chapel is just a few blocks from Santa Fe Plaza, so you may find yourself within walking distance.

Loretto Chapel is typically open every day of the week, from roughly 9:30am to 4:30pm. That said, it does close for private weddings—more often on the weekends—so check the chapel website before making plans. Beyond that, there’s no bad time to visit, though crowds are at their largest around lunchtime.

The Loretto Chapel is just one example of Santa Fe’s incredible and tangible history—the city dates back to 1610. Before or after your mysterious staircase sojourn, take a historical tour and check out other nearby notable sites, like the Palace of the Governors (also circa 1610), the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Santa Fe Plaza.