Snake Alley Columbia & 6th

Experiencing "North HILL" Burlington,IA

Snake Alley Columbia & 6th

Burlington, Iowa 52601, United States

Created By: Heritage Hill Association

Information

Ripley's Believe It or Not calls Snake Alley the "Crookedest Street in the World." Perhaps Burlington's most famous landmark, Snake Alley is located between Columbia and Washington Streets North 6th Street and consists of five half-curves and two quarter-curves. The street is reminiscent of vineyard paths in France and Germany.

The alley is composed of limestone and blue clay bricks. The constantly changing slant from one curve to the next necessitated a complicated construction technique to keep the high grade to the outside. Snake Alley curves over a distance of 275 feet (83.8 m), rising 58.3 ft (17.8 m), a 21% grade, from Washington Street to Columbia Street.

The street is the site of an annual uphill bike race, the Snake Alley Criterium, held each Memorial Day weekend.

The Snake Alley Art Fair, sponsored by the Art Guild of Burlington, is held annually on Father's Day.

Snake Alley is maintained by Burlington Parks Department.

This point of interest is part of the tour: Experiencing "North HILL" Burlington,IA


 

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