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1909 Map of Seattle

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Seattle
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1922
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1922

About this map

Seattle dominates the landscape in this era of rapid municipal expansion, showing the city's complex relationship with its surrounding waters just after the turn of the century. The map captures a critical moment for the State University grounds as they hosted the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, a landmark event that reshaped the local topography near Portage Bay. The dense street grid of the central business district contrasts sharply with the independent character of outlying neighborhoods like Ballard, Youngstown, and Georgetown, which still retained distinct industrial and residential identities.

Transportation networks define the region's growth, from the Seattle Everett Interurban line to the extensive rail infrastructure of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific and Puget Sound RR. The Duwamish River remains in its winding, natural state before major channelization, flowing past South Park and Vanasselt toward Elliott Bay. Notable landmarks such as Fort Lawton and Magnolia Bluffs overlook Puget Sound, while the tranquil Green Lake and Woodland Park provide an early glimpse into the city's emerging park system.