Queen Anne’s stairways—long or short, manicured or wild, hidden or grand—are defining features of the hill. With more than 120 public stairways, they offer both a glimpse into history and endless opportunities for exploration.

In 2008, local architect and resident Thomas Horton created The Map of the (Oft) Pedestrian Public Stairs of Queen Anne Hill, still available at selected local bookstores: Queen Anne Book Company, Mercer Street Books and Metskers Maps. He also built a companion website and partnered with Queen Anne Historical Society in support of the map.

Now in 2025, we’re thrilled to host Horton’s work here, featuring his original art, photos, and content in a curated, updated format. The stairways trace back to Queen Anne’s early trolley days in the 1900s, when steps were essential to reach transit. Pick up a copy of the map or dive in digitally and start your own Queen Anne stairway adventure!

Note from the Queen Anne Historical Society
The Horton Collection, especially its map, offers a valuable overview of Queen Anne stairs, but some texts and images no longer reflect current conditions. For instance, the Horton photos of our stairs date from 2007, before the City addressed Americans with Disabilities Act standards. As a result, they do not show the many ADA compliant railings added since.

As you explore the Horton Collection and our beautiful stairways, remember: archives preserve the past, but time moves on. For updated history and context, look for new articles such as Up, Down, All Around – Discovering Queen Anne.

GETTING YOUR VERY OWN MAP
Want your own copy of the famous Queen Anne Stairs Map? Available at selected local stores: Queen Anne Book Company, Mercer Street Books and Metskers Maps.

WHERE IS QUEEN ANNE?
Queen Anne is in the heart of beautiful Seattle, Washington

WHAT IS "QUEEN ANNE HILL"?
For these purposes, Queen Anne Hill is taken as that area bordered by Mercer Street to the south, 15th Ave W to the west, Nickerson Street to the north, and Dexter Street to the east.

WHAT IS A "PUBLIC STAIR"?
For these purposes, a public stair has to have top and bottom landing that are accessible to the public 24 hours a day and must have at least two treads.

NOTABLE STAIRS

Oldest in all of Seattle – built in 1904, #299
Longest in all of Seattle – Galer Steps are a series of six stairways with 526 steps in total, #117
Steepest - connects 11th Avenue W to Gilman Drive W., #357
Most beautiful and impressively engineered – Willcox Wall, #343
Most romantic – the kissing stairs, aka Grande Dame, #79

SPECIFIC WALKS
Looking for some great walks that include public stairways? Take a look at these ideas. Curious about the story of someone who climbed all 121+ staircases?

FIND-IT, FIX-IT
Want to alert the City of Seattle to needed stair maintenance? Find It, Fix It is a smartphone app offering mobile users a convenient way to report infrastructure issues. Download Find-It, Fix it. Alternatively, the issue can be reported on Seattle.gov Customer Service Request.

While his heart is always in Queen Anne, Thomas Horton moved away to Overland Park, KS (Ad Astra Per Aspera). He lives there with his wife who he met at QA Branch of SPL and their son who deeply misses Nielsens’ kringles.

Thomas Horton. 2025. Courtesy of Thomas Horton

Thomas Horton Photo Collection – Queen Anne Public Stairs
In 2007, while creating his well-known map, Thomas Horton photographed all 120+ Queen Anne stairs—about 3,260 images in total. He has generously donated digital copies to the QAHS Archives. Explore a curated selection here: Thomas Horton Collection.