13. Miraculous Staircase of USA - This
is the miraculous staircase of Saint Joseph at Loretto Chapel in Santa
Fé, New Mexico. U.S.A.,
which, after 134 years since it was built in 1878, still confounds
architects, engineers, and master craftsmen in the physics of its
construction and remains inexplicable in view of its baffling design
considerations. The unusual helix shaped spiral staircase has two
complete 360° turns, stands 20 feet high up to the choir loft and has no
newel (center pole) to support it as most circular stairways have. Its
entire weight rests solely on its base and against the choir loft - a
mystery that defies all laws of gravity, it should have crashed to the
floor the moment anyone stepped on it, and yet it is still in use daily
for over a hundred years. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same
height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed
with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails. At the time it was
built, the stairway had no banisters. These were added 10 years later in
1888 by Phillip A. Hesch at the Sisters'
request. |
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