Howe Street Stairs

A popular set of stairs made in 1911.

Countless bloggers, podcasters, and Seattle fans, in general, are quite proud of Seattle's staircase count. The city and the rest of Washington are a tricky environment to navigate, as there are many hills and inclines. In many ways, the Howe Street Stairs has influenced the architecture of the city and the culture. There are apps and websites, such as AccessMap, designed to help pedestrians and drivers alike make a route and get to their destination promptly while also cutting down as much longitudinal travel as possible.

Throughout the city, there are over 650 flights of stairs connecting neighborhoods and streets. These steps were created in 1911 to connect two lines of the streetcar system in place at the time but have since been removed. The stairs have a twin, the Blaine Staircase; however, that one isn't quite as grand or expansive as these steps. The Howe Street Stairs are made up of 388 steps, making it a popular place to work out. Come and climb the steps if you’re up to the challenge.