# Loretto Staircase **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315 "2000-03-25T03:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neubauerian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@neubauerian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neubauerian)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/1 "2000-03-25T03:23:00Z")
i watched an interesting special the other night about the mysteries surrounding the building of the Loretto Staircase. the question was posed, but never answered. could the staircase be duplicated today, with our modern advances? ---
**Author:** ![debra\_neubauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@debra\_neubauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/debra_neubauer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/2 "2000-03-25T03:56:00Z")
Hmmm, what an interesting question. I haven’t the faintest idea. Can you supply a graphic so we can get an idea? If not, just a discription will work. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/3 "2000-03-25T04:05:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by neubauerian: > **i watched an interesting special the other night about the mysteries surrounding the building of the Loretto Staircase. the question was posed, but never answered. could the staircase be duplicated today, with our modern advances?** For more information, try this link: “[http://www.csicop.org/si/9811/i-files.html](http://www.csicop.org/si/9811/i-files.html)” * * * The Prince: “Did you kill Jahamaraj Jah?” Lady: “Yes.” The Prince: “My Gods! Why?” Lady: “His existence offended me.” ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/4 "2000-03-25T04:06:00Z")
Oops - I guess I don’t know enough as to how to make a link properly. Oh well, you can copy and paste. * * * The Prince: “Did you kill Jahamaraj Jah?” Lady: “Yes.” The Prince: “My Gods! Why?” Lady: “His existence offended me.” ---
**Author:** ![debra\_neubauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@debra\_neubauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/debra_neubauer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/5 "2000-03-25T04:55:00Z")
Okay, it’s my twin sister asking this. But, why can’t anyone respond with an answer that makes any sense? It’s a legitimate query. ---
**Author:** ![debra\_neubauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@debra\_neubauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/debra_neubauer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/6 "2000-03-25T05:01:00Z")
Hi twin - I guess I missed the link some gentlman sent you to. I suggest you try it for the information. love, b ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/7 "2000-03-25T05:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by debra neubauer: > **Okay, it’s my twin sister asking this. But, why can’t anyone respond with an answer that makes any sense? It’s a legitimate query.** Well, ms. smarty pants, if you’ll go to the link graciously provided by Anthracite, you’ll find the answer to your “twin sister”'s inane query. Peace, mangeorge * * * I only know two things; I know what I need to know And I know what I want to know Mangeorge, 2000 ---
**Author:** ![neubauerian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@neubauerian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neubauerian)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/8 "2000-03-25T05:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by debra neubauer: > **Hmmm, what an interesting question. I haven’t the faintest idea. Can you supply a graphic so we can get an idea? If not, just a description will work.** ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/9 "2000-03-25T05:22:00Z")
And for a less skeptical viewpoint, try: “[http://www.nmia.com/~paulos/loretto.html](http://www.nmia.com/~paulos/loretto.html)” * * * The Prince: “Did you kill Jahamaraj Jah?” Lady: “Yes.” The Prince: “My Gods! Why?” Lady: “His existence offended me.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/10 "2000-03-25T06:40:00Z")
Wow. And they named it after ME. * * * “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.” — Han Solo ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/11 "2000-03-25T07:03:00Z")
I think I saw the same special. But didn’t it say near the end that they now have a pretty good idea of who did the staircase? (I don’t remember his name.) As I recall, he constructed it instead of working on some other project which he was being paid for. A pretty good reason to remain anonymous. The program even showed newspaper clippings of reports of his death. * * * “No,” he replied, and smiled seraphically, as was his wont. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/12 "2000-03-25T17:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > But, why can’t anyone respond with an answer that makes any sense? Look, honey, we can supply answers to the most obscure questions in the universe but you’re gonna have to give us more than an hour and a half. What are we, LensCrafters now? * * * **Gypsy** : Tom, I don’t get you. **Tom Servo** : Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby. ---
**Author:** ![debra\_neubauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@debra\_neubauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/debra_neubauer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/13 "2000-03-27T08:13:00Z")
we tried both web addresses listed in the responses to your query & found no one home! Would there be a recommended introduction to this subject for one who missed the broadcast? & hi d ---
**Author:** ![debra\_neubauer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@debra\_neubauer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/debra_neubauer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/14 "2000-03-27T08:32:00Z")
& we just found a site w/ the right info to start an investigation- [Brittanica.com](http://Brittanica.com)…many promising clues! hey beej!! ---
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/15 "2000-03-27T14:47:00Z")
Hi -just came across this. I did visit New Mexico some years ago, and I read about this staircase. I even saw it. It is quite exceptional, being self-supporting. The brochure I read makes an interesting claim-that the wood used is not native to N. America. Has this been proven? ---
**Author:** ![malden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@malden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malden)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/16 "2000-03-28T17:52:00Z")
Here’s the staircase in full color-- I took this picture when I visited in 1998. Strangely enough, the building is now privately owned-- I wonder what would have prompted the church to sell it. When I was there the room was quite crowded and there was a really loud audio program playing-- it kind of ruined the church-like ambience. But it’s still worth a visit (and the buck or two admission fee) if you’re ever in Santa Fe. malden [http://home.earthlink.net/~cgreeneva/thebox/loretto.jpg](http://home.earthlink.net/~cgreeneva/thebox/loretto.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/17 "2000-03-29T00:59:00Z")
Oh, it doesn’t have a support pole? So much for that building in Toronto that claims to have the world’s first such staircase, then. ---
**Author:** ![neubauerian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/dec6dc/32.png) [@neubauerian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neubauerian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/18 "2000-03-29T02:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by malden: > \*\*Here’s the staircase in full color-- I took this picture when I visited in 1998. Strangely enough, the building is now privately owned-- I wonder what would have prompted the church to sell it. When I was there the room was quite crowded and there was a really loud audio program playing-- it kind of ruined the church-like ambience. > But it’s still worth a visit (and the buck or two admission fee) if you’re ever in Santa Fe. > > malden > > [http://home.earthlink.net/~cgreeneva/thebox/loretto.jpg](http://home.earthlink.net/~cgreeneva/thebox/loretto.jpg) > > \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Oblio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c4cdca/32.png) [@Oblio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblio)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/19 "2000-03-29T03:11:00Z")
There is a hidden support that attaches to the balcony, and when it was originally built it had no railing, that was added later. I think (but I’m not entirely sure) I read and saw this in Smithsonian, but it may have been on the the broadcast special. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315/20 "2000-03-29T13:50:00Z")
Well, whether or not it’s a miracle, it’s quite a graceful piece of architecture at any rate. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loretto-staircase/10315.md?page=2)