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1909 Map of Seattle Special

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

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

The Seattle waterfront and its surrounding industrial and residential districts appear here just as the city emerged as a major Pacific metropolis. This 1909 revision captures the site of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition on the grounds of the State University, a moment of significant civic pride and development. The intricate rail network is dominated by the Northern Pacific RR, the Great Northern RR, and the Seattle-Everett Interurban, illustrating the era's reliance on inter-urban and transcontinental rail for growth.

Industry and topography define the landscape, from the milling and maritime hubs of Ballard and Salmon Bay to the southern industrial stretches of Georgetown and South Park along the winding Duwamish River. The map also details early residential nodes like West Seattle, Youngstown, and Atlantic City, alongside recreational and landmark spaces such as Woodland Park, Volunteer Park, and Fort Lawton on the Magnolia peninsula.