Burlington in Des Moines County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Snake Alley

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

1. Snake Alley Marker

Inscription. Built in 1894, Burlington, Iowa’s
Snake Alley
is unbelievably crooked —
boasting five half-curves
and two quarter-curves that
span 275 feet!

The street rises over
58.3 feet at a 21% grade
and has
1100 degrees of turns!

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and unexpected for over 100 years.
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 40° 48.695′ N, 91° 6.349′ W. Marker is in Burlington, Iowa, in Des Moines County. Marker is at the intersection of Washington Street and North 6th Street, on the right when traveling west on Washington Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk at the Snake Alley exit/bottom. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Burlington IA 52601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. 20th Anniversary of the Snake Alley Criterium (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Congregational Church (about 600 feet away); The Burlington Public Library (about 700 feet away); First Civil War Monument West of the Mississippi

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(about 700 feet away); Hedge's Building (about 700 feet away); Hotel Burlington (approx. ¼ mile away); Engine No. 3003 / Market Square (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henderson County Covered Bridge (approx. 10 miles away in Illinois). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burlington.

Regarding Snake Alley. Contributing property in Burlington's Snake Alley Historic District, NRHP #75000683, and Heritage Hill Historic District, NRHP #82000406.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Snake Alley. Wikipedia entry:
The physical limitations and steep elevation of Heritage Hill inspired the construction of Snake Alley in 1894. It was intended to link the downtown business district and the neighborhood shopping area located on North Sixth Street, of which Snake Alley is a one-block section. Three German immigrants conceived and carried out the idea of a winding hillside street, similar to vineyard paths in France and Germany: Charles Starker, an architect and landscape engineer; William Steyh, the city engineer; and George Kriechbaum, a paving contractor. (Submitted on June 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

2. Snake Alley Marker

(looking north/uphill from Washington Street at North 6th Avenue)

Snake Alley Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

3. Snake Alley Entrance

(looking south from Columbia Street at North 6th Avenue)

Snake Alley Top image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

4. Snake Alley Top

(looking south/downhill from top of Snake Alley • North 6th Avenue continues in the background)

Snake Alley Middle image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

5. Snake Alley Middle

(there are five extreme curves through the middle of Snake Alley)

Snake Alley Bottom image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021

6. Snake Alley Bottom

(looking north/uphill from bottom of Snake Alley)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.