1959 Map of McKenna

About this map

The Nisqually River carves a winding path through this Pierce and Thurston County landscape, dividing the Fort Lewis Military Reservation from the developing rural settlements to the south. During the late 1950s, the region was defined by its expansive open spaces, specifically the Yelm Prairie and Smith Prairie. The town of Yelm serves as a primary hub, situated near Solberg Lake and McKenzie Lake, while the smaller settlement of McKenna sits directly on the riverbank, marked by industrial Ruins. The map illustrates a complex water management system of flumes and ditches alongside significant rail infrastructure, including the Pacific Northern and Milwaukee Chicago St Paul line. From the heights of Bald Hill to the curiously named Mock City within the military boundary, this survey preserves a transitional moment of Northwest prairie life before suburban expansion.