Snake Alley (Burlington, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Snake Alley
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | Burlington, Iowa |
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| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | William Steyh |
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| NRHP reference No. | 74000783 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1974 |
Snake Alley is a very unique street in Burlington, Iowa. It was built way back in 1894. In 2017, the famous "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" group called it "Unbelievably Crooked." They even named it the number one "Odd Spot" in their special campaign across America!
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Why Was Snake Alley Built?
Snake Alley was built because of the very steep hills in the area. It was designed to connect the busy downtown area with a shopping street higher up. This special street is actually just one block of North Sixth Street.
Who Designed This Winding Road?
Three German immigrants came up with the idea for this winding street. They wanted it to look like the paths found in vineyards in France and Germany.
- Charles Starker was an architect and landscape engineer.
- William Steyh was the city engineer.
- George Kriechbaum was a paving contractor.
The street was finished in 1898.
How Snake Alley Got Its Name
When it was first built, the street was just part of North Sixth Street. But some years later, someone noticed how it twisted and turned down the hill. They said it looked like a snake winding its way down. And that's how the name "Snake Alley" stuck!
A Shortcut for Horses and People
Snake Alley was first made to be a shortcut. It helped people get from the top of Heritage Hill down to the business district. The bricks on the street were laid at an angle. This helped horses get better grip as they walked downhill.
Why Is It One-Way?
Even though it was good for going downhill, riding horses back up the alley was tricky. Horses often lost control at the top. Because of this, Snake Alley has always been a one-way street. All traffic must go downhill.
The Crookedest Street in the World?
In the 1940s, a writer named Robert Ripley visited Snake Alley. He was so amazed that he added it to his famous "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" column. He called it "The Crookedest Street in the World."
Snake Alley vs. Lombard Street
You might have heard of Lombard Street in San Francisco. It's also famous for being crooked. But Snake Alley has even sharper turns! It has a total of 1100 degrees of turning from start to finish. Lombard Street's turns only add up to 1000 degrees.
How Snake Alley Was Built
The street is made from limestone and blueclay bricks. Building it was very complicated. This was because the slant of the street changes constantly from one curve to the next. They had to make sure the higher side of the road stayed on the outside of the curves.
Measurements of the Alley
Snake Alley is about 275 feet (84 meters) long. It goes up about 58.3 feet (17.8 meters) from Washington Street to Columbia Street. This means it has a very steep 21% grade!
Fun Events at Snake Alley
Snake Alley is not just a street; it's also a place for fun events!
- Snake Alley Criterium: Every year, there's an uphill bike race on the street.
- Snake Alley Art Fair: The Art Center of Burlington hosts an art fair here.
- Snake Alley Festival of Film: Filmmakers from all over the world come to compete in this festival.
