Burlington: Culture, Parks, and Snake Alley

Burlington brings together distinctive street architecture, cultural attractions, and extensive parklands. These places offer different points of interest for planning your trip: you can learn about the city’s history, plan around events, or explore paths and gardens. The various options make it easy to choose what to focus on.

Snake Alley and Culture in Burlington

Snake Alley was built in 1894 with an experimental street design. Its unusual shape can also be seen in its precise measurements: over a length of 275 feet, it winds through five half-circle and two quarter-circle turns. From Washington Street to Columbia Street, it rises 58.3 feet. Visitors can test their driving, walking, or cycling skills on Snake Alley. Its measurements and sequence of curves make for a truly distinctive street layout.

The Snake Alley Art Fair takes place every June. It features works by dozens of juried artists and craftspeople. If you would like to plan your trip around the fair, check the specific event dates before making arrangements.

The restored Capitol Theater is an Art Deco venue dating from 1937, with 367 seats. Its program includes independent and classic film screenings, community events and weddings, as well as performances by local, regional, and national artists. The offerings range from film and performing arts to community events.

The Heritage Hill Historic District was designated in 1982 and added to the National Register of Historic Places. The history of local institutions offers another way to get to know the city: the Heritage Center Museum opened as Burlington’s public library in 1898. The DMC Heritage Center focuses on the history and creative spirit of the people who have lived in Des Moines County, Iowa.

The Burlington Fire Department Museum displays the original hose tower doors, installed in 1907, as well as photographs documenting the fire department’s history and special equipment, including a restored hose cart. Check before your arrival to see if a visit is possible.

Parks, Gardens, and Trails

The 85-acre Crapo Park is located on the Mississippi River and includes an arboretum and botanical garden. More than 200 varieties of trees and shrubs grow in the arboretum. Walking paths wind through it; other named park features include Lake Starker, the Hawkeye Natives Log Cabin, the Pike Memorial, the Foehlinger Fountain, and the Band Shell. Alongside the plant life, there are several specific places to explore within the park.

Starr’s Cave Park and Preserve is a 184-acre state nature preserve and park area. It is owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and managed by Des Moines County Conservation. The rock formations along Flint Creek are unique in the world. Two miles of trails wind through quiet woods and along Flint Creek—offering a different focus from the gardens at Crapo Park.

When planning your route, it helps to distinguish between the information about Starr’s Cave and the Flint River Trail. Starr’s Cave has two miles of trails, while the Flint River Trail includes a seven-mile section from Flint Bottom Road to Big Hollow. This section officially opened to the public in October 2013. Hiking, walking, jogging, cycling, cross-country skiing, roller skating, skateboarding, and bird-watching are allowed on the Flint River Trail. Motorized wheelchairs are permitted only to support accessibility.

Events as a Reason to Visit

The Great River Bridge Race includes an approximately 1.5-mile Bridge Walk, with views of the Mississippi River and downtown Burlington. If this event is important to your trip, check the event dates and registration details in advance.

Discover more destinations: West Burlington

For the broader travel overview: Des Moines County.