Visit Chapel Loretto - Story behind Miraculous Staircase of the Chapel Loretto

In 1873, the construction of the chapel begun using a French architect. Unfortunately, the architect died before access to the choir loft was built. A simple staircase would have taken up too much floor space.  Legend states the Sisters of Loretto prayed a nine-day prayer called novena to St. Joseph who was patron saint of carpenters.

On the final day of the novena, a carpenter appeared with only a hammer and carpenter’s square.  He built what is now known as the Miraculous Staircase with simple tools and wooden pegs.  The rare wood is not native to the American Southwest.  When the Staircase was complete, it is said that the carpenter disappeared without receiving thanks or payment. 

The Bandelier Monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans of a later era in the Southwest. Most of the pueblo structures date to two eras, dating between 1150 and 1600 AD. The visitor center at Bandelier National Monument features exhibits about the site's inhabitants, including Ancestral Pueblo pottery, tools and artifacts of daily life.

Golf courses of New Mexico boast magnificent vistas and a selection of mountain, desert or links layouts.  The rugged terrain tests golfers of all skill levels as does the elevation. The courses run through ponderosa, pine and juniper and up-and-down the mountainous landscape. Long fairways, deep sand traps and smooth greens bring acclaim from a wide range of golf experts.

Enjoy the warmth of Campfire Connections in the crisp air of Glorieta in the evenings, take delight with conversation, hot chocolate or hot apple cider and smores with new and old colleagues as you reflect on each other’s friendships and inspiration from the day.