Stairways have played a unique role in the development of Dubuque, Iowa’s first and oldest city. In 1833, the city’s newly arrived citizens settled on the flat land along the Mississippi River at the foot of seven hills that form the city’s majestic bluffs.
By the later part of the 19th century, Dubuque’s population had grown and spread up into the Hill District on top of the bluffs and beyond. Many grand mansions as well as more humble dwellings were built on top of the bluffs. Those homeowners wanted to not only take advantage of the majestic views of the city and river below but also wanted to distance themselves from the noise and pollution of the city. While the wealthy owned horses and carriages or used the city’s two elevator systems, the less affluent relied on a comprehensive system of stairways to walk back and forth from the high bluffs to their jobs, churches, and schools in the lower part of the city.
Early in the 20th century, Dubuque boasted 25 separate public stairways. Most of the steps were constructed between 1900 and 1916. The Madison Street steps (originally called the Seminary Hill Steps) located at the north end of Main Street were considered to be the most sophisticated and elaborate of the public steps. In 1918, the original steep wooden steps that led from the downtown district up to Madison Park were replaced by a concrete stairway. The new, modern staircase was built and installed at a cost of $2,100 and at an unfortunate 100% cost overrun. The stairs were as much admired for their architectural features as for their practical value. At night, lights brightened each of the many landings of the eight flights of steps which also included a spiral staircase.
Some repairs were made to the Madison Street stairs in 1942, but by 1945, the stairs had been so neglected that they had become dangerous. The deterioration continued and advanced so much that by 1956 the unsafe steps were closed and allowed to collapse under their own weight. In June of 1975 the Dubuque City Council instructed staff to include repairs of the steps in the next year’s street construction program. Today, only a short stairway leads up to a residence once served by the more elaborate Madison Street steps.
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