Geek Central

I’ve spent way too much time researching whether spiral staircases go clockwise or counterclockwise (from the bottom up). Google AI tells me that most winding staircases travel clockwise from the bottom up. Other sources say as much as 75% go counterclockwise. Apparently stairways in towers always go clockwise and there are many theories as to why that is. WHY was I researching this topic, you might ask. Well, I was in the small town of Traer, Iowa and their famous landmark is a winding staircase on Main Street that used to go up to the second floor of the town newspaper building. The Traer staircase goes clockwise from the bottom up. At the street level, it seemed like it went the wrong direction and I realize that’s because the handrail is on the left side and I am right-handed. However, I then realized that coming down the staircase, the handle would be on the correct side for me. So, I really can’t answer the question about the most common direction of a winding staircase, but from now on when I see a spiral staircase I will take note of the direction for my own little personal research study.