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All the United States Iowa Burlington Snake Alley

Snake Alley

While there are no actual snakes in the history of this crooked road, there may be a number of dead horses.

Burlington, Iowa

Added By
Criss Roberts
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Snake Alley   Loco Steve on Flickr
Snake Alley   Loco Steve on Flickr
Snake Alley   Loco Steve on Flickr
Snake Alley   Loco Steve on Flickr
  WebeontheGO / Atlas Obscura User
entrance   ddeebbbb / Atlas Obscura User
Ripley’ s Believe it or not sign   ddeebbbb / Atlas Obscura User
  derekshull990 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Once deemed by Ripley's Believe It or Not to be the "Crookedest Street In The World," Iowa's Snake Alley was created in 1894 by a trio of German immigrants. The steep street was constructed with a purposeful design, meant to mimic the vineyard trails of Europe.

Aside from aesthetic choices, the street also served to connect Burlington's downtown business district to a residential area on the raised end of Snake Alley.  The street consists of nearly 300 feet of five half-curves and two quarter-curves. The dizzying zig-zag proved too much for the horses that it was initially intended for. Limestone bricks that make up the street's surface were decidedly placed at an angle, to help the beasts keep a footing.

Speaking of horses in Snake Alley, there is a (likely apocryphal) story that after it was completed, the Burlington fire department would send prospective horses down the road at a full gallop and those that didn't tumble over themselves, break ankles, or otherwise collapse would be allowed to pull the fire trucks. 

Today, the road is home to an annual bike race and art fair.

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Added By

crissroberts

Edited By

skibyelol, EricGrundhauser, ddeebbbb, derekshull990...

  • skibyelol
  • EricGrundhauser
  • ddeebbbb
  • derekshull990
  • WebeontheGO

Published

June 19, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.traveliowa.com/aspx/dest.aspx?id=7348
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Alley
Snake Alley
Columbia Street
Burlington, Iowa, 52601
United States
40.813398, -91.110951
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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Iowa

Iowa

United States

Places 74
Stories 10

Nearby Places

Norma Jean Circus Elephant Monument

Oquawka, Illinois

miles away

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miles away

Richard Proenneke Museum

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Iowa

Iowa

United States

Places 74
Stories 10

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