San Francisco has many unique features, but none match the quirky engineering of Lombard Street. This trivia game tests what you know about the city’s most famous crooked block.
You will see questions about the switchback turns, the original hill’s steep incline, and the historical design decisions. We also cover the garden maintenance and tourist rules.
If you enjoy this topic, we have other quizzes for you. Explore our trivia on famous streets and squares, check out urban design, or discover interesting facts about cities of the world.
In which major American city is the world-famous crooked section of Lombard Street located?
San Francisco
San Francisco
Seattle
Seattle
Portland
Portland
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
The famous winding block of Lombard Street is situated within which iconic neighborhood?
Russian Hill
Russian Hill
Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights
Nob Hill
Nob Hill
Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill
How many hairpin, or switchback, turns constitute the scenic, crooked portion of Lombard Street?
Seven
Seven
Nine
Nine
Eight
Eight
Six
Six
What was the primary engineering reason for designing the street with so many sharp turns?
To increase property values
To increase property values
To slow down traffic
To slow down traffic
To create a park space
To create a park space
To accommodate a steep hill grade
To accommodate a steep hill grade
The incline of the original straight hill before the curves were added was approximately how steep?
32%
32%
27%
27%
22%
22%
17%
17%
Which flower variety is most famously associated with the manicured landscaped beds of Lombard Street?
Tulips
Tulips
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas
Sunflowers
Sunflowers
Orchids
Orchids
Who is primarily responsible for the maintenance and care of the flower beds along the iconic block of Lombard Street?
The Golden Gate Bridge Authority
The Golden Gate Bridge Authority
The City Planning Department
The City Planning Department
An anonymous private donor
An anonymous private donor
Local homeowners and gardeners
Local homeowners and gardeners
In what year was the design of the famous eight hairpin turns on Lombard Street officially completed?
1932
1932
1942
1942
1922
1922
1912
1912
What is the traffic direction for vehicles on the famous crooked block of Lombard Street?
Pedestrian traffic only
Pedestrian traffic only
Two-way traffic
Two-way traffic
One-way traffic (uphill)
One-way traffic (uphill)
One-way traffic (downhill)
One-way traffic (downhill)
Despite its fame as a tourist attraction, what is the official classification of the famous crooked block of Lombard Street?
A park access road
A park access road
A cable car route
A cable car route
A standard city street
A standard city street
A private road
A private road
What is the recommended speed limit for the winding block of Lombard Street?
5 mph
5 mph
20 mph
20 mph
10 mph
10 mph
15 mph
15 mph
Which property owner is often credited with proposing the switchback design to overcome the steep grade of the street?
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
James P. Cuneen
James P. Cuneen
Carl Henry
Carl Henry
John McLaren
John McLaren
The winding road surface of the iconic block is paved with which material?
Red bricks
Red bricks
Concrete bricks
Concrete bricks
Cobblestones
Cobblestones
Asphalt
Asphalt
In recent years, how have city officials occasionally managed the extreme congestion caused by tourists on this street?
By allowing vehicles only during heavy rainstorms
By allowing vehicles only during heavy rainstorms
By temporarily closing the street to vehicular traffic on select weekends and holidays
By temporarily closing the street to vehicular traffic on select weekends and holidays
By converting the street to a two-way road
By converting the street to a two-way road
By banning all pedestrian traffic from the sidewalks
By banning all pedestrian traffic from the sidewalks
Looking straight east from the top of the crooked block of Lombard Street, which landmark on Telegraph Hill is directly in the line of sight?
Coit Tower
Coit Tower
Sutro Tower
Sutro Tower
Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
What is a common misconception about the famous street?
It is the crookedest street in San Francisco
It is the crookedest street in San Francisco
It is located in the Russian Hill neighborhood
It is located in the Russian Hill neighborhood
Its design was created in the 1920s
Its design was created in the 1920s
It has eight hairpin turns
It has eight hairpin turns
Which other San Francisco street is often claimed to be ‘crooked’ in a similar, yet less landscaped, fashion than Lombard?
Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Hyde Street
Hyde Street
Jones Street
Jones Street
Vermont Street
Vermont Street
What was the major driving factor for rethinking the street’s design in the early 20th century?
The steepness of the hill made it difficult for automobiles to navigate safely
The steepness of the hill made it difficult for automobiles to navigate safely
To stop the creation of a massive apartment complex
To stop the creation of a massive apartment complex
To serve as a firebreak after the 1906 earthquake
To serve as a firebreak after the 1906 earthquake
The street was blocked by a large boulder field
The street was blocked by a large boulder field
The hydrangeas planted along the street are famously known for which colors?
Pink and blue
Pink and blue
Yellow and orange
Yellow and orange
Purple and gold
Purple and gold
Red and white
Red and white
When are the flowers along the street typically in their most vibrant bloom?
Only during the Christmas season
Only during the Christmas season
Spring and summer months
Spring and summer months
Winter months
Winter months
Late autumn only
Late autumn only
What is the current regulatory status of the famous crooked block of Lombard Street?
It is owned and managed by the National Park Service
It is owned and managed by the National Park Service
It is a pedestrian-only zone closed to all vehicles
It is a pedestrian-only zone closed to all vehicles
It is a public street free and open to downhill traffic
It is a public street free and open to downhill traffic
It requires a toll and a pre-booked reservation
It requires a toll and a pre-booked reservation
Approximately how many visitors does the crooked block of Lombard Street receive annually?
3 million
3 million
2 million
2 million
1 million
1 million
4 million
4 million
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