San Miguel Chapel vs Loretto Chapel: Which Has the Staircase?
- Disambiguation
- Sourced
- Reviewed Nov 2026
Short answer: they are two different churches a short walk apart on Old Santa Fe Trail. San Miguel Chapel is a small adobe mission church, originally built around 1610 and often called the oldest church building in the continental United States. The Loretto Chapel is an 1870s Gothic Revival chapel, famous for its spiral staircase. San Miguel has no famous staircase; the “miraculous staircase” is at Loretto.
Image above: San Miguel Chapel at 401 Old Santa Fe Trail. Credit: MARELBU, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
| Loretto Chapel | San Miguel Chapel | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 207 Old Santa Fe Trail | 401 Old Santa Fe Trail |
| Built | Completed 1878 | Around 1610; rebuilt 1710 |
| Style | Gothic Revival, stone | Spanish colonial adobe |
| Famous for | The spiral “miraculous staircase” | Being one of the oldest churches in the US |
| Owner | Private owners (museum and wedding chapel) | Saint Michael’s High School / Christian Brothers |
| Services | None (deconsecrated) | English Mass first Sunday of the month, 3 p.m. |
| Hours | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily | Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sun 12–3 p.m. |
| Admission | $5 adults | $7 general (a preservation donation) |
Hours and prices from each chapel’s official site, checked 8 November 2026: Loretto Chapel, San Miguel Chapel. Confirm before you go.
Why people mix them up
Both are historic chapels on the same street in downtown Santa Fe, both are tourist stops, and both appear in “oldest” and “most mysterious” lists. Searches for a “San Miguel chapel staircase” almost always mean the Loretto staircase. Neither San Miguel’s official site nor its Wikipedia article mentions a notable staircase.
San Miguel Chapel in brief
San Miguel was originally built around 1610, probably soon after Santa Fe was founded, by Indigenous people from Mexico who came with the Spanish, and is first mentioned in writing in 1628. It was damaged in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and rebuilt in 1710; a roof beam is inscribed “Año 1710”. Its painted altar screen dates from 1798 (Wikipedia: San Miguel Chapel; San Miguel Chapel).
The Loretto Chapel in brief
The Loretto Chapel was built for the Sisters of Loretto’s girls’ academy and completed in 1878. Its wooden spiral staircase, with 33 steps, two full turns and no central pole, is the subject of the St. Joseph legend. Start with the staircase overview or the history of the Sisters of Loretto.
Visiting both
The two chapels are a few minutes apart on foot along Old Santa Fe Trail, so it is easy to see both in an hour. Loretto is open later; San Miguel closes at 3 p.m. Loretto can close without notice for weddings, while San Miguel does not host weddings.
Quick answers
Is San Miguel Chapel the same as Loretto Chapel?
No. They are separate churches on Old Santa Fe Trail. San Miguel dates from around 1610; Loretto was completed in 1878.
Does San Miguel Chapel have a miraculous staircase?
No. The miraculous spiral staircase is in the Loretto Chapel.
Is San Miguel the oldest church in the US?
It is often called the oldest church building in the continental United States, originally built around 1610 and rebuilt in 1710.
How far is San Miguel Chapel from Loretto Chapel?
A few minutes’ walk along Old Santa Fe Trail; Loretto is at number 207 and San Miguel at 401.
Can you visit both chapels in one day?
Yes. San Miguel is open until 3 p.m. and Loretto until 5 p.m.
Sources
- Wikipedia, “San Miguel Chapel”.
- San Miguel Chapel, official site.
- Loretto Chapel, “Visit Us”.
- Wikipedia, “Loretto Chapel”.
Keep exploring
Researched & fact-checked by the Loretto Volunteers Editorial Team
Loretto Volunteers is an independent research project documenting the history, architecture, and enduring mystery of the Loretto Chapel staircase. We work from primary and archival sources and show our evidence. Last reviewed: June 2026.
