Check out the colorful 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
I love artsy and unusual places to visit and this was definitely one of the places I wanted to check out in San Francisco out in the Richmond district a short walk or bus ride from Golden Gate Park. The 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco are just that, colorful mosaics the climb up to the top of a small hill in the outer Richmond with lovely views back to the ocean and surrounding neighborhoods.
Where are the 16th Avenue stairs located?
Even though it is called the 16th Avenue stairs, they are actually located at the base of Moraga street between 15th and 16th avenue.
What is the 16th Avenue Stairs all about and what makes it unique?
Started as a neighborhood wide project to beautfiy and revitalize the neighborhood, the 16th Avenue Stairs were a grass roots effort started in 2003. This successful collaboration to create an impressive sea to star themed staircase all the way to the top was the brainstorm of residents Jessie Audette and Alice Yee Xavier and included the beautiful workmanship of artist Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher. Neighbors sponsored each of the tile piece and group creative sessions to create more tile works in the total of 163 mosaic panels that you see today.
Cool mosaics on 16th Avenue in San Francisco
The fun thing about visiting this cool mosaic staircase is the amazing craftmanship and continuous design elements that make it so appealing. You practically have to walk up the entire staircase to enjoy every little section of this art installation and once you are on top, you get these magnificent views – stunning right?
Mosaic details 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
Funny, when you look back down, you can’t see any of the mosaics from the stairs which are not done in mosaic making it easier to just concentrate on the climb or descent when you start going down from the top without being distracted.
Views from the top – 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
Underwater series with marine life, 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
Closer to the top of the stairs are my favorite sections with the constellation filled with stars and swirls, then it transitions to a huge sun burst when you finally reach the top of the staircase- a wonderful experience that is very energizing and fun to climb all the way to the top.
Planets and constellations,Evening to sunrise, California pinks and purples, California blooms, 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
Evening to sunrise, California pinks and purples, California blooms, 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
During the spring season, all the California native plants seem to be popping up and blooming all at the same time, adding more color to this already gorgeous landscape. Beautiful, don’t you think?
California blooms, 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
California pinks and purples, California blooms, 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco
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Have you visited 16th Avenue Stairs?
Was this a fun staircase to explore in San Francisco? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Hope you enjoyed viewing this colorful mosaic staircase, to learn more about the project, check out their website here for more inspiration.
Well, hope you enjoyed the tour and climb at the 16th Avenue stairs in San Francisco. If you enjoyed reading the post, please do share it with any of the social media buttons on the post – thanks.
Beautiful, but correction. These steps are in the sunset district. Not the Richmond. 16 th ave and moraga mosaic stairs.
Yet another reminder here Noel that San Francisco has such a European feel to it! The moment I started wandering around this city last year, I immediately felt at home and that’s probably because of the Euro aesthetics that are scattered around the city. I am not sure if this is always intentional but it’s just the feeling that I got and this staircase and the mosaics are certainly no different.
As Paul mentioned in an earlier comment, this really as a Spanish flair associated with it and it’s definitely an impressive piece of work! Thanks for sharing this experience with us and hopefully we will see this for ourselves when we next head back to San Fran.
What an explosion of colours – both in the mosaics and the native plants. I adore mosaic, and would love to learn how to do it one day. Those stairs are amazing, you’d wonder how people can just walk up and down them, without wanting to stay there and repeat the experience a number of times.
That looks really fun. Love the colours and details. Reminds me a little of Barcelona and Gaudi…
Those stairs are incredible – and I’m sure they aren’t in guidebooks, thankyou for finding them!! I can only imagine how many people speed up the steps in a rush and miss the beauty – although if they were on my city commute then they would bring a daily smile! And I’d probably have to take a daily photo too!
I did enjoy the tour thanks Noel. The mosaic work seems to be of a high standard and with the flowers a really lovely place to visit.
Those stairs are beautiful and I also enjoyed the view from the top!
Noel, Love these. Not going to San Fran this summer…but maybe next year I’ll check out these stairs!
headed to San Fran in June, will check out the steps!!!!
Oh my, these stairs are stunning. How beautiful!