1897 Map of Seattle

About this map

The waters of Possession Sound and Elliott Bay define this turn-of-the-century coastal landscape, where the maritime and railroad economies of Puget Sound were rapidly maturing. The primary urban center of Seattle is depicted before the massive regrading projects of the early 20th century, showing a city tightly bound by its topography near Duwamish Head and Magnolia Bluff. To the north, the industrial waterfront of Everett and the river town of Snohomish are connected by a dense network of rail lines including the Great Northern RR and the Everett & Monte Cristo RR. Smaller settlements like Ballard, Fremont, and Ravenna appear as distinct entities, many of which would later be annexed as the city expanded. The map meticulously documents the transition from densely timbered terrain to organized townships, noting numerous freshwater bodies like Lake Washington and landmarks such as the West Pt. L.H. and the Port Madison Indian Reservation.