Iowa All Over: Town’s Snake Alley only 275 feet, but it’s in the record book

BURLINGTON — Snake Alley in Burlington boasts five half-curves and two quarter-curves that span 275 feet, located between Columbia and North Sixth streets.

It's that twisting and turning that earned it the designation of 'Crookedest Street in the World,' according to Ripley's Believe It or Not.

The uniqueness of this stretch of road makes it by far the most famous landmark in Burlington, a town of 25,663 along the Mississippi River in southeastern Iowa. In 1975, the Snake Alley Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Standing at the top of Snake Alley offers a picturesque view of town. The alley, bordered by five homes that were standing before the alley was constructed in 1894, is lined with colorful rose bushes at the top.

One of those houses belongs to Steve Brower, who grew up in Burlington. He's lived on Snake Alley since the 1970s.

'It's exciting because a lot of people ask, 'What about making all those curves, isn't that kind of troublesome?' Brower said. 'By the time you come down, you feel like you've taken a drive in the country — it's real peaceful.'

The city hosts the American Queen Riverboat a few times during the summer, bringing visitors to Snake Alley, said Chelsea Tolle, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

'Seeing gobs of them walking down the street is a cool experience,' Tolle said.

Snake Alley beats well-known Lombard Street in San Francisco when it comes to twists and turns to earn the 'crookedest' designation.

'Ripley's Believe It or Not came here and Lombard Street,' Tolle explained. 'We received 'crookedest' because we're shorter, so the curves are tighter.'

Cars can drive down Snake Alley, and it's also open to pedestrian traffic.

The street hosts an annual uphill bike race, called the Snake Alley Criterium, every Memorial Day Weekend. The Snake Alley Art Fair is held annually on Father's Day.

'Visitors just love the downtown district area, and Snake Alley is right there at the edge, because of the historic feel,' Tolle said. 'They think it's neat, specifically for Snake Alley, that those are still the original bricks.'

Just east of Snake Alley is Cobblestone Alley, also included on the National Register and made up of large blocks of native limestone.

Burlington also is home to the Phelps House Museum, a Victorian house built in 1851 and located at the top of Snake Alley. Elsewhere in town, the Port of Burlington Welcome Center sits along the Mississippi and the scenic Great River Bridge connects Burlington to Gulfport, Ill.

If you go

What: Snake Alley

Where: 400 N. Sixth St., Burlington

Go to snakealley.com or burlingtoniowa.org