# Why was Lombard Street (San Francisco) built that way? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254 "2005-06-14T19:12:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/21 "2005-06-15T21:29:39Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > She also wondered why they put so many hills in when they built the city. > > :rolleyes: She was thinking of [New Orleans](http://www.neworleansmuseums.com/naturemuseums/zoo.html): > [@](#): > > Monkey Hill was built by Works Progress Administration workers to show the children of New Orleans what a hill looks like. At 28 feet, it’s the legendary “highest point in New Orleans.” Today it boasts wading pools, a rope bridge and a safari trail. BTW, I used to live in a rented flat off Vermont Street. It’s a few houses down from the green house in Antonius Block’s link. Stumbling home from Connecticut Yankee / Bottom of the Hill was quite an experience. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/22 "2005-06-15T21:55:03Z")
" Between Washington and Columbia Streets in Burlington, Iowa, something twisted happens–five half twists and two quarter twists, to be exact. “We have this joke with people that visit from California if Lombard Street in San Francisco or Snake Alley is more crooked,” says Beth Mclain from the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. “They always say Lombard Street, because it’s longer, but Snake Alley has much sharper curves.” The street still contains the original brick that was laid in 1894." [http://www.snakealley.com/index.html](http://www.snakealley.com/index.html) [http://orgs.l3.drake.edu/drake-mag/html/sp04%20html/randomroadtrips.html](http://orgs.l3.drake.edu/drake-mag/html/sp04%20html/randomroadtrips.html) ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/23 "2005-06-15T22:09:41Z")
More on snake alley: [![](http://kamikaze.bddev.com/photos/2000/snakealley.jpg) ](http://kamikaze.bddev.com/photos/2000/snakealley.jpg) [http://www.dailypeloton.com/article\_images/teams/2004/xxx/SnakeRandy1.jpg](http://www.dailypeloton.com/article_images/teams/2004/xxx/SnakeRandy1.jpg) [http://www.thehawkeye.com/features/1998/snakecr/images/1titl.jpg](http://www.thehawkeye.com/features/1998/snakecr/images/1titl.jpg) I rode my bike down it once for RAGBRAI, hard on the brakes. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/24 "2005-06-15T22:11:58Z")
Last ones. I promise: [http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/snakealley.jpg](http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/snakealley.jpg) [http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/NYerLeBaron.jpg](http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/NYerLeBaron.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/25 "2005-06-15T22:24:12Z")
There are hills in Iowa? :eek: I had no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/26 "2005-06-15T22:37:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > There are hills in Iowa? :eek: I had no idea. Well, just one. They keep moving it around to impress the tourists. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/27 "2005-06-15T22:41:02Z")
> [@drhess](#): > > Last ones. I promise: > [http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/snakealley.jpg](http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/snakealley.jpg) > [http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/NYerLeBaron.jpg](http://registry.imperialclub.com/Events/Midwest01/NYerLeBaron.jpg) No apologies needed for your wonderful shots. Thanks very much!! ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/28 "2005-06-15T22:43:16Z")
I had the pleasure of walking down Lombard Street last week (on my way to Coit Tower). It’s flipping steep round there! ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/29 "2005-06-16T01:11:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Lombard street is actually straight. It was made artifically 'crooked" by “planters” to slow down traffic. The Transamerica pyramid is actually rectangular. It was made artificially 'pyramidal" by “slanted sides” to confuse tourists. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/30 "2005-06-16T06:22:38Z")
A friend of mine lives on 27th Street just off of Castro. That streer isn’t windy, but it curves around due to a hill at the end, which is quite steep itself. Driving up 27th is a test in engine horsepower… the grade is steep enough I fear for my life should my brakes ever give out on it. ---
**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/31 "2005-06-16T13:52:08Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > There are hills in Iowa? :eek: I had no idea. RAGBRAI is a bike event each summer, I assume it continues, that was started by columnists at the Des Moines Register to prove to an out of stater, I think, that Iowa has hills. The ride starts on the Missouri River and ends at the Mississippi and is kind of serious but kinda of moving party over 6 days. I think the hilliest part of IA (and I know you were just kidding, but I have to get this out) is in the NE (home of the New World Symphony). I grew up in the SW part of Iowa that has the Loess Hills which I’m told are very rare hill formations. They are steep and come out of nowhere only to suddenly disappear. They stretch from north of KC, MO to 'round about Council Bluffs, IA. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/32 "2005-06-16T14:33:46Z")
> [@drhess](#): > > I think the hilliest part of IA (and I know you were just kidding… Actually, embarassingly, I was serious. I pictured Iowa as one of the Plains States (Kansas, Nebraska, So Dakota…), and that all the Plains States were 100% flat. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/33 "2005-06-16T15:02:12Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Actually, embarassingly, I was serious. I pictured Iowa as one of the Plains States (Kansas, Nebraska, So Dakota…), and that all the Plains States were 100% flat. Two of the states you mentioned are not completley flat. The Badlands, (including Mt Rushmore) extend from Western South Dakota down into Nebraska. Google “Scott’s Bluff” for some cool pics of Western Nebraska. Iowa has the Loess hills on the Western Edge and the Mississippi river valleys on the Eastern area. The glacier that gave Iowa its flat reputation took out the middle third of the state. Both sides of this area are quite hilly. Not mountains or anything, but anything but flat. IIRC, Kansas, like Oklahoma, are both flat from border to border. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/34 "2005-06-16T15:51:10Z")
Some nice shots of, and further information on Loess Hills. This thread is the only place (other than crossword puzzles) in which I’ve encountered ‘loess’. Thank you, **drhess**. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/35 "2005-06-16T15:52:51Z")
Damn it! Here’s the Loess Hills link I omitted in the previous post. [http://images.google.com/images?q=Loess+Hills&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images](http://images.google.com/images?q=Loess+Hills&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images) ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/36 "2005-06-16T15:59:33Z")
Here is a link to pics for Scott’s Bluff Scott’s Bluff ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/37 "2005-06-16T16:32:41Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > Here is a link to pics for Scott’s Bluff > > Scott’s Bluff Link didn’t work — for me anyway. Hope this one does. Some good pics here. [http://images.google.com/images?q=Scott's+Bluff&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images](http://images.google.com/images?q=Scott%27s+Bluff&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/38 "2005-06-16T21:07:27Z")
> [@JXJohns](#): > > IIRC, Kansas, like Oklahoma, are both flat from border to border. Highest Point in Kansas: [Mt. Sunflower, 4,039 Feet](http://www.americasroof.com/ks.html). Lowest Point in Kansas: [Verdigris River, 679 Feet](http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ks_geography.htm) That’s a difference of 3,360 feet. Highest Point in Oklahoma: [Black Mesa, 4973 Feet](http://www.americasroof.com/ok.html) Lowest Point in Oklahoma: [Little River, 289 Feet](http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ok_geography.htm) That’s a difference of 4,684 feet. The flattest states are Florida (345 feet at Britton Hill, 0 feet at sea level), Louisiana (535 feet at Driskill Mountain, -8 feet in New Orleans), and Delaware (450 feet in a trailer park, 0 feet at sea level). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/39 "2005-06-16T21:10:44Z")
An unfortunate paragraph break. It’s negative eight feet at one point or another in New Orleans. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254/40 "2005-06-17T02:50:57Z")
Highest point in California Mt. Whitney 14,491 Lowest point in California Death Valley -282 Total difference 14,773 yup, Kansas is flat all right. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-lombard-street-san-francisco-built-that-way/308254.md?page=3)