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The [[U.S. Navy]] tested the wood and determined that it is unique from no known type of tree or [[DNA]].<ref name="YouTube">https://youtu.be/u61Zi0X1Lw0</ref>

The [[U.S. Navy]] tested the wood and determined that it is unique from no known type of tree or [[DNA]].<ref name="YouTube">https://youtu.be/u61Zi0X1Lw0</ref>

== Skeptics ==

== Skeptics ==

Skeptics cannot deny that the helix staircase exists, as many visit it annually.  They also cannot deny that it lacks a center supporting column as other spiral staircases have support.  Skeptics have denied that the Loretto staircase can support much weight, but the foregoing photo proves them wrong about that too.

Skeptics cannot deny that the helix staircase exists, as many visit it annually.  They also cannot deny that it lacks a center supporting column as other spiral staircases have and need for support.  Skeptics have denied that the Loretto staircase can support much weight, but the foregoing photo proves them wrong about that too.

''Snopes'' tries to downplay this achievement and dispel this mystery, but its arguments are unpersuasive.  For example, ''Snopes'' implies that a side connector added later (and visible above), to stop the springiness of the stairs, is somehow a support.<ref>https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stairway-from-heaven/</ref>  It plainly is not.  ''Snopes'' also tries to disparage the original staircase as possibly being unsafe because it lacked a hand-railing, but that obviously misses the point and the hand-railing was trivial to add when desired.  The ''Snopes'' analysis concludes with a slap at the private ownership of the chapel, by saying that they somehow have "a strong financial motive" to perpetuate a legend, as though anyone is getting rich off this.

''Snopes'' tries to downplay this achievement and dispel this mystery, but its arguments are unpersuasive.  For example, ''Snopes'' implies that a side connector added later (and visible above), to stop the springiness of the stairs, is somehow a support.<ref>https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/stairway-from-heaven/</ref>  It plainly is not.  ''Snopes'' also tries to disparage the original staircase as possibly being unsafe because it lacked a hand-railing, but that obviously misses the point and the hand-railing was trivial to add when desired.  The ''Snopes'' analysis concludes with a slap at the private ownership of the chapel, by saying that they somehow have "a strong financial motive" to perpetuate a legend, as though anyone is getting rich off this.