Loading map...

1959 Map of Gig Harbor

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Gig Harbor
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Gig Harbor and the surrounding Pierce County coastline appear here in a period of significant postwar growth, documented in 1959 with urban expansions updated through the early 1980s. The map captures the complex maritime geography of Colvos Passage and The Narrows, anchored by the critical Tacoma Narrows Bridge connecting the mainland to the Kitsap Peninsula. Along the shoreline, industrial and recreational landmarks define the era, from the Tacoma Smelter and Nelson Bennett Tunnel near Ruston to the historic Fort Nisqually (Restoration) within Point Defiance Park.

Smaller settlements like Artondale, Cromwell, and Harbor Heights are shown alongside local institutions such as the Artondale Cem and Gig Harbor Sportsmens Club. The topography reveals a landscape of high bluffs and sheltered inlets, including Wollochet Bay and Paradise Cove. The detailed rendering of schools, such as Hunt High School and Geiger Sch, provides a clear view of mid-century suburban development as it moved toward Point Fosdick and the edges of Tacoma.