1894 Map of Seattle

About this map

Seattle sits at a pivotal moment of expansion in the mid-1890s, caught between the salt waters of Elliott Bay and the vast Lake Washington. This survey reveals a landscape of independent satellite towns before their full incorporation into the city, including Ballard, West Seattle, and South Seattle. The complex hydrology of the region is evident in the winding Dwamish River and its expansive wetlands, long before the massive dredging and filling projects of the 20th century transformed the industrial district. Rail networks like the Seattle Lake Shore and Eastern R.R. and the Seattle and Montana R.R. trace the shorelines, while early neighborhoods such as Fremont, Latona, and Ravenna emerge near the shores of Lake Union and Green Lake. The map also captures several settlements along the Lake Washington shore that are now part of the city's urban fabric, such as Columbia City and Pontiac.