Loading map...

1900 Map of Tacoma

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Tacoma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

Puget Sound and the intricate shoreline of Admiralty Inlet anchor this turn-of-the-century topographic record, which documents a landscape transitioning from tribal lands and small coal settlements into an industrial rail corridor. The map highlights the extensive Puyallup Indian Reservation and Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, showing the early footprint of Tacoma alongside rural outposts like Chautauqua and Vashon Center on Vashon Island.

Transport is dominated by the Northern Pacific RR and the Puget Sound Electric Ry, tracing the fertile valleys of the Duwamish River and Black River. This era captures specific local landmarks such as the Soldiers Home near Orting and the coal-mining hub of Black Diamond, offering a precise view of the region's geography before the mid-century urbanization and hydrological changes altered the river courses forever.