Name	Seward Alley
Rating
Location	Runs from 19th Street and Seward Street to 18th Street near Caselli Street
Length	Two blocks
Stairs nearby	Douglass Street Stairs Seward Street Stairs Market & Danvers Market & Storrie [Full stairway listing]
Map

Seward Alley is unique because...well...it's an alley.  In most American cities, that wouldn't be very interesting.  San Francisco, however,  is built without almost any alleys.  Houses here generally are placed very close to the sidewalk with little or no front yard and large backyards completely isolated from the street.

Seward Alley consists of a series of small, steep staircases interrupted by stretches of flat sidewalk.  The lower end of the alley has the steepest and most noticeable staircase.  Along the way, the alley cuts through several backyards and intersects an odd little street (alley?) lined with garages - another rarity in San Francisco.

Seward Alley intersects 19th and 18th Streets mid-block, so you won't see it unless you are looking for it, especially on the 19th Street end. 

You can combine Seward Alley with several local stairways for a decent stairwalk.  I recommend you start at the Douglass Street Stairs, proceed down Douglass Street to the Seward Street Stairs, then follow Corwin to 19th Street.  At 19th Street, turn left and watch for Seward Alley on the right side of the Street. 

Click here for Sister Betty's favorite stairways.

Click here for a full list of stairways or 
Click to sort By: Location - Length - Rating

Live Internet Camera
Road Trip 2003
Road Trip 2004
San Francisco Photographs
Trains
Railroad Graffiti