1949 Map of Des Moines

About this map

The Seattle Tacoma International Airport dominates the central landscape of this coastal King County corridor, situated between the urban expansion of Seattle and the waters of Puget Sound. The map illustrates the post-war transition of small shoreline settlements like Seahurst, Seola Beach, and Zenith into a more contiguous suburban fabric, highlighted by purple revision tints indicating mid-century growth. Along the eastern edge, the industrial and transport corridor follows the Duwamish River and Green River valleys, where the Burlington Northern railroad serves towns like Tukwila and Allentown. Local history is deeply etched into the terrain through numerous community landmarks, including Riverton Crest Cem, Washington Memorial Cem, and institutional anchors such as Highline High Sch. The coastal bluff topography drops sharply toward the sound, preserved at Salt Water State Park and Covenant Beach Camp.