Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are a Beaux-Arts staircase and small park on 22nd Street NW in Kalorama, connecting Decatur Place and S Street. Built in 1911, the stone steps climb a steep slope beneath magnolias, oaks, eastern red cedars and flowering trees, with a fountain at the top. Come for a quiet pause, a picnic or sunset light filtering through the canopy. The setting is also used for proposals, wedding photos and small ceremonies; the fountain may not be running when you visit.

A staircase built for the slope

The Spanish Steps, also known as the Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain, connect Decatur Place NW with S Street NW on 22nd Street. They were built in 1911 in Kalorama, where the steep slope made a street connection impractical. The Beaux-Arts design is credited to architect Robert E. Cook.

The staircase is named for Rome’s Spanish Steps. It is a public park occupying a street, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Trees, fountain and photo setting

Magnolias, eastern red cedars, oaks and other flowering trees line the steps. At the upper end, a small fountain completes the composition, though the water feature is not always running. The canopy gives the setting its appeal for photographs, especially as evening light filters through the leaves.

The steps are used for engagement sessions, wedding photographs, proposals and small ceremonies. They also make a peaceful place to sit with food you bring along. The staircase can draw more people on weekends, so a quieter visit may take planning.