San Francisco is famous for its hills. To help those suffering by foot conquest, staircases have been constructed. These stairways are located throughout the city, often hidden, and sometimes intricately designed with tile.
As a recent activity, I’ve started to document the tiled steps I’ve come across, which are incredibly magnificent pieces of art.
If you’re looking for an outdoor activity, check out these seven sets of stairs made over with beautiful mosaic tiles.
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1. 16th Avenue Tiled Steps/Moraga Steps
Location: 16th Avenue and Moraga Street
If you’ve ever seen or heard of any of SF’s tiled mosaic staircases, it’s most likely these along 16th Avenue in the Sunset, or more specifically, the Golden Gate Heights neighborhood. This 163-step staircase is definitely the most famous one out of the seven listed here, and rightfully so. These steps are known as the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps or the Moraga Steps.
Inspired by the Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the mosaic panels by artists Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher depict our world: starting from the ocean at the bottom, climbing all the way up to the sun, detailing animals, fish, shells, and more. The project kicked off in 2003 when residents Jessie Audette and Alice Yee Xavier started a grassroots effort to beautify the area; neighbors funded the work by sponsoring tiles.
Not only are the stairs full of color, they’re nested between two strips of vibrant gardens full of flowers. To top it all off, the stairs face directly out to the Pacific Ocean, making this a great option to enjoy the sunset as well.
2. Hidden Garden Steps
Location: 15th Avenue and Kirkham Street
Located just a few blocks from the 16th Avenue stairway above, this 143-step staircase is covered in precisely detailed tiled mosaic art completed by the same artists: Barr and Crutcher.
Another volunteer and community-based public art project, these steps extend from Kirkham to Lawton in the Golden Gate Heights/Inner Sunset neighborhood.
The theme depicts our world’s colorful nature, with a combination of vivid flowers and insects. The entirety of this set of stairs is hidden between several buildings, earning its name of hidden garden steps.
Most people are more often drawn to the 16th Avenue tiled steps, so don’t forget to check out this one if you are around the area.
3. Flights of the Fancy Steps
Location: Innes Ave and Arelious Walker Street
Another one crafted from artists Barr and Crutcher, this 87-step mosaic tiled staircase is located in Hunters Point/Bayview connecting Northridge Road and Innes Avenue. They feature incredible views of the bay. The Flights of Fancy Steps’ tile work features artwork inspired by Native American painted pottery, Central American textiles, paisley designs from India, Middle Eastern tile patterns, Adinkra cloth from Ghana, and fabrics from Japan and Indonesia.
The stairs are surrounded by large, unmaintained pieces of land, that is slowly being developed. The staircase is also called the Arelious Walker Stairway, as it’s dedicated to Dr. Arelious Walker, a former pastor who was an advocate for the Bay View District.
4. Tompkins Stairway
Location: Nevada Street and Tompkins Avenue
Located in the southeast corner of Bernal Heights, the Tompkins Stairway is a fresh pop of color and design helping to beautify this neighborhood park. Designed by architect Andre Rothblatt, the multicolored, zigzag tile design is inspired by the Steps to Peace painted by young people in the Syrian town of Deir Atiyah.
Each tile represents one color, and the arrangement results in an extremely satisfying visual from the bottom of the steps. “Created by neighbors — for neighbors,” the project transformed a “once trash-covered hillside” that’s now a safe park that serves as a community green space and home to the Alemany Farmers’ Market.
5. Athens Avalon Greenspace
Location: Avalon Avenue and Athens Street
Quietly sitting in the residential area of the Excelsior District, the Athens Avalon steps used to be a weed filled, undeveloped area. Organizers, volunteers, and city planners teamed up to spruce up the area, which resulted in not only a colorful staircase with a simple design, but also a lovely garden with vibrant flowers to compliment the stairs.
The tile work was completed by a group of young planning and architecture students.
6. Kenny Alley
Location: Mission Street, between France and Italy Avenues
Not far from the Athens Avalon Greenspace, Kenny Alley is a small passage that connects part of the Excelsior’s residential area to one of San Francisco’s most important streets — Mission Street, allowing more convenient access to commercial business and transportation services. The theme of the mosaic tile work on the 47 steps, completed by local artists and students, depicts a waterfall, with images of the water extending to the walls as well. As part of the beautification of this alley, you’ll also find murals and a vertical cactus garden.
7. Lincoln Park Steps
Location: 32nd Avenue, between California Street and the Lincoln Park Golf Course
Of the entire list, Lincoln Park steps is the shortest set of stairs, but also the widest. Dating back to the early 1900s, the steps had experienced decades of decay and vandalism until a complete makeover in 2007 (over the course of seven years) added plant and beaux arts inspired tile work. The stairs lead to the Lincoln Park Golf Course, along with a trail that leads to Lands End — one of San Francisco’s best hikes to see the coastline and the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll recognize the artist—Aileen Barr—who, as mentioned, contributed to many of the other staircases we’ve covered.
