One way to divide the "Types" of stairs on Queen Anne Hill into groups is by looking at their handrails.

Using this system, we can identify five distinct types of stairs: CIP, Pipe Rail, Modern, Trolley Rail, and Hybrid.

This system also proves to be a good indicator of stairs age, as the earliest extant stairs are of the CIP type. Later stairs were made from Pipe Rail, then Trolley Rails were used (interesting story, that), and finally we get to the Modern and Hybrid handrails which incorporate considerations for ADA accessibility and safety.

Note from the Queen Anne Historical Society
While transferring the Horton Collection, only minor changes were made; the content remains essentially as Thomas Horton created and first shared it on qastairs.com in 2010. As you explore the Collection and our beautiful stairways, remember that time moves on, but archives stand still. For example, the Horton photos of our stairs date from 2007—before the City addressed Americans with Disabilities Act standards—and they do not show the many ADA-compliant railings added since. While minor errors pop up, they do not diminish the Collection’s overall value, usefulness, or enjoyment.