Stairs that Stump Everyone who View Them

I was recently going through some old photos that I had saved for future references and came across a picture of a single staircase. This staircase was unique because it looked to be standing without support and it was incredibly exquisite in appearance. So I had to know the story behind it and what a story I found.

Five nuns (originally it was seven but things happen) moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and built a church (Lorretto Chapel's) around 1870. Before the church was completed however the builder passed away and with it took his plans for the staircase that was to be built leading up to the choir loft. This was not an easy mistake to fix because there was no room for a traditional staircases and it needed to reach the height of 22 feet in order to gain access to the choir loft.

Well these nuns decided that only one thing could fix this problem and turned to God in prayer. The spent nine days in prayer (novena) asking God to help them solve this problem and low and behold on the ninth day their prayers were answered.

A strange old man with a donkey and a meager possession of tools came to the church and offered his services. The nuns trusted that he was Gods answer to their prayers and hired him. He worked for several months in seclusion. He did not allow the nuns to see his work while he did it. When he finished and the nuns saw his work they were amazed. In fact it still amazes people today.

It is a spiral staircases that has two complete 360 degree revolutions, 33 steps, no central column or means of support, and no nails at all. It still baffles the minds of all who encounter it as no one can say for sure how it works. All we know is that it is perfect and absolutely stunning. It is even said that it is made of wood that does not even exist. So what is the deal?

The nuns believed that it may have been St. Joseph that came and built the stair case. The felt he was sent by God as an answer to their prayers. When the nuns went to pay him he could not be found. They tried everything in order to find the man but he never came forward. In my opinion this man was just what the nuns thought he was or he was a generously shy man who happened to be a genius at woodwork and sought to share his gift. Either way, miracle or genius, the staircases is a wonder to behold. You can still go view the staircase today because it is now a museum.

References:
http://www.santafenm.info/churches.htm

Picture Credits:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/nmsantafephotostwo.htm