National Register of Historic Places

Snake Alley Historic District

Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa
Listed
May 20, 1975
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
75000683

About this property

The Snake Alley Historic District is a nationally recognized historic district located in Burlington, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, and it was included in the Heritage Hill Historic District that surrounds it, in 1982. The historic district is largely a residential area that includes ten contributing properties. It is centered on Snake Alley, a 275-foot (84 m) brick roadway built in 1894 that rises 58.3 feet (18 m) from Washington Street to Columbia Street. The alley receives its name from the five half curves and two quarter curves that climb the hill. Cobblestone Alley is the eastern boundary of the district. It is a very steep roadway composed of large, limestone blocks. Six houses, built between 1845 and about 1880, surround Snake Alley. Schwartz' Auto Electric Service building and the First United Church of Christ complex round out the contributing buildings.

Location

Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa
40.81209, -91.10638

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Snake Alley Historic District

This page lists Snake Alley Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

German Methodist Episcopal Church
Industrial
0 mi
Snake Alley
Industrial
0 mi
Burlington Public Library
Civil War
0.1 mi
Heritage Hill Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
West Jefferson Street Historic District
Pre Contact
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Snake Alley Historic District listed on the National Register?

Snake Alley Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Snake Alley Historic District?

Snake Alley Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Snake Alley Historic District?

The period of significance for Snake Alley Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Snake Alley Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Snake Alley Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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