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1900 Map of Tacoma

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Tacoma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

Puget Sound Admiralty Inlet and its intricate shoreline dominate this late nineteenth-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by water and early rail infrastructure. The Puyallup Indian Reservation sits at the head of Commencement Bay, while the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation spans the confluence of the White River and Stuck River. These river valleys form a critical corridor for the Northern Pacific Railway, connecting growing agricultural and industrial hubs like Puyallup, Sumner, and Auburn.

On the islands, communities such as Chautauqua and Vashon Center on Vashon Island and Maury on Maury Island are shown in their early development stages, linked to the mainland by ferry routes. The map documents significant institutional landmarks like the Soldiers Home near Orting and the emerging seaside settlements at Des Moines and Adelaide. The dense network of small lakes, including Lake Tapps and Star Lake, highlights the glaciated terrain of the lowland before the major twentieth-century hydroelectric developments and urban expansion.