Snake Alley, Burlington, Iowa, USA
Ripley’s Snake Alley the “Crookedest Street in the World.” Perhaps Burlington’s most famous landmark 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 blueclay 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.
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