Blanketed by the fog, hidden in plain sight, and infused into the hills and streets of San Francisco, are more than 900 public staircases dispersed throughout the city. Every one of these staircases holds a unique story. Whether it’s through vibrant artwork, lush greenery, or re-told history, each of them find their own way to tell theirs.
One of the most famous of these staircases is the Lincoln Park Steps. No–not the popular 90s band–but the entrance to one of San Francisco’s most alluring areas. This staircase features a vibrant beaux-art inspired tile artwork that complements the greenery around it.
“The last time I went [to Lincoln Park] was about a year ago..it was a nice sight to see, and it makes one feel peaceful,” commented Lilah Callahan ’26.
The steps were not always this appealing, though. Because the stairs were built in the early 1900s, they experienced a lot of wear-and-tear throughout the years. However in 2007, community project builders and founders of “Friends of Lincoln Park” Anna Yatroussis and Meg Autry wanted to restore and improve the steps for the public. They teamed up with tile-artist Aileen Barr, San Francisco Parks Alliance, and other architects to work on the project. The final product was a seven-year endeavor that in addition to structural repairs, added life and color to the dull and grey steps that came before it.
“When I see the stairs I think of my childhood cause I grew up with Lincoln Park and for me it feels nostalgic,” reflected Elena Navarro ’26.
In the present day, the steps serve as a testament to public efforts and the local artists of San Francisco, symbolizing the city’s ever changing and improving landscape.
Liz Novoa, known as the Staircase Queen, became a fan of staircases when she picked up the book “Stairway Walks in San Francisco” by Adah Bakalinsky.
“I would follow her stairway walk routes and check off the staircases as I climbed them. It not only was a hobby but a goal to walk every staircase in San Francisco. During the pandemic, I actually had the time to accomplish that goal although I walked almost all of them, I still have a handful of staircases I have yet to step.”
After having traversed dozens of staircases, she does have a few favorites.
“I love the staircases of SF, so it is really hard to pick favorites but here are a few: Oakhurst and Blairwood Lane in the Forest Knolls Neighborhood. All the stairs in Ina Coolbirth Park (between Taylor and Mason). Best views there too.”
She added, “Of course, the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps are great, but once you get to the top of those and continue on the stairs leading up to Grandview Park, they are unique in their own way too. But my most favorite is the Harry Street Stairs in Glen Park. I think they were my first staircase that I really liked.”
One of San Francisco’s most underappreciated staircases is Telegraph Hill’s steps up Filbert street. What at first glance seems like just a way to get to Coit Tower, the stairway is much more than that.
Beginning as disordered and windblown, the steps transformed into a gorgeous, lush garden from the care of Grace Marchant. This dedicated San Francisco local began her project in 1949, and continued for over three decades until she passed away in 1982.
Now, the garden is completely maintained through volunteer service, with locals eager to preserve its story. This allows visitors to enjoy and appreciate Marchant’s goal and vision for the garden.
Novoa started an Instagram page, SFStaircaseQueen, during the COVID pandemic where she started documenting her staircase loving stories. Some time after that, she “virtually met the author, Alexandra Kenin, who wrote Urban Trails, San Francisco and made the most amazing google map of every staircase in the city (bit.ly/sfstairmap).”
She continued, “We met for a staircase walk and met 98 year old Rudy on the 21st Street stairs in Noe Valley. He said the stairs kept him young.”
SFStairways.com maps put more than 300 of the 700 plus stairways in San Francisco, which include those that are tiled or painted, made of brick, stones, concrete or dirt, and even those that are under construction.
Although known for its hilly topography, San Francisco comes only second to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the number of stairways in the city limits, with Steel City boasting more than 800 sets of steps. According to biophiliccities.org, (“Biophilic means “the inherent human inclination to connect with nature and other forms of life”), this was to “provide a way for workers to walk to the steel mills from their hillside homes.”
While city stairways connect humans to nature, humans also enhance nature with art work.
Novoa said, “The art is unbelievably important and impactful to the city. It brings foot traffic to neighborhoods and businesses. It beautifies concrete steps into magical gardens. It brings the community together to celebrate the identity of a neighborhood or vision. It also gives all the great muralists and artists in SF a canvas to shine on.”
