When Stairs and Slides Are Hiding in Plain Sight

Play real-life Chutes and Ladders at these obscure thruways.
BY KAVYA RAM MOHAN, PLACES FELLOW

An ordinary stroll can quickly become extraordinary when you stumble on one of the many hidden stairways and slides that dot the world’s cities. Some are seemingly mundane structures hiding fascinating histories, while others blend into the landscape like a secret, surprising even long-term residents. These slopes and climbs make ordinary places more fun.





1
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Secret Tiled Staircase
A hidden mosaic staircase leads to breathtaking views of San Francisco.

1

2
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Winfield Street Slides
This pair of slides and a tree-lined stair corridor have been an urban oasis for nearly 40 years.




3
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Howe Street Stairs
Spanning an elevation of 160 feet and containing 388 steps, Seattle's longest staircase was originally built to link two streetcar lines.




4
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Seward Street Slides
These slippery downhill slides built in the 1960s are actually a triumph of neighborhood activism.




5
MUNICH, GERMANY
Umschreibung
Hidden within an office building in Munich, a double-helix staircase seemingly leads you up… to nowhere.




6
BISBEE, ARIZONA
Bisbee Stairs
With thousands of steps scattered through the town, Bisbee is a maze of staircases and desert mountain vistas.


7
LYON, FRANCE
Traboules Secret Passages
Between courtyards and through buildings, secret alleyways and staircases once provided safe passage for silk workers.




8
WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Exorcist Stairs
Wedged between a stone wall and a brick warehouse, this stairwell is the iconic site of the classic horror film's climactic final showdown.




9
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The Music Box Steps
This simple set of municipal steps is the site of a memorable scene from Laurel and Hardy's "The Music Box."

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