When was lombard street built

This refers to the windy switchbacks of road that grace the block between Hyde and Jones. That honor belongs to Vermont Street between 20th and 22nd streets in the Portrero Hill neighborhood. People are often puzzled as to why this street is so crooked. The answer is safety. The naturally steep grade of the street posed a severe safety hazard.

Each day there are dozens of tourists that traipse up and down the few blocks that make up the curvy part of Lombard Street. But what exactly can you do at this attraction? Here are the major activities that actually take place on the block:. Enjoy a scenic drive. If you are in a car then you can head West on Lombard Street to take a drive down the curving part of the road.

Many people lean out the window with their video cameras to capture the experience on film. Note, however, that this area often gets backed up with traffic and driving is slow.

If you are in the city during peak driving times in the tourist-filled summer months of the year then expect to wait in line for awhile to be able to take your turn in a car. Once you get to Lombard Street, the sight is pretty easy to digest. Enjoy a slow and challenging drive down the street, or get some exercise by hiking up to the top. Along the way, you will encounter a number of gorgeous photo ops, featuring the magnificent mansions, beautifully landscaped gardens, and colorful flowers that frame Lombard on both sides.

At the top of the hill, enjoy looking out over a sweeping view of the water surrounding the city, the Bay Bridge, and Coit Tower. Once you finish exploring this crooked attraction, there is plenty to do within walking distance. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love.

Courtney Holcomb. Getting There. Lombard Street near Leavenworth — the future site of crooked block. Houses, streets, and undeveloped area. Man and child standing in foreground. Angel Island in the distance. Kilburn Brothers, Littleton, N. Auto on Lombard St circa William Barclay Parsons proposes a crooked street for California Street hill December 6, , seventeen years before the winding road was created on Lombard Street.

From the San Francisco Chronicle archives. The sketch above shows engineer Parsons' plan for the California Street Hill, with the car line running through a tunnel and the street converted into a winding, parked driveway - The portraits below are of William Barclay Parsons on the left and Patrick Calhoun. Lombard Street Hill n. Colored squares decorate Lombard Street as kids play the world's largest game of Candyland on August 19, in San Francisco. Lombard Street is an east west street in San Francisco.

It is famous for having a steep, one block section that consists of eight tight hairpin turns. Lombard Street circa Looking North; foreign car with lady sweeping steps. Alcatraz Island is in the background.