Loading map...

1900 Map of Tacoma

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Tacoma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The waters of Puget Sound and Commencement Bay define the western reaches of this late 19th-century landscape, where maritime commerce meets an emerging rail and industrial network. Large land tracts like the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation and Puyallup Indian Reservation sit alongside growing inland centers such as Auburn and Kent. The terrain transitions from the intricate coastlines of Vashon Island and Maury Island to the foothills of the Cascades, marked by landmarks like Cedar Mountain and Wingate Hill.

Transportation corridors follow the natural river valleys, with the Northern Pacific Railway and the Tacoma and Eastern Railroad connecting coal-mining and agricultural settlements. Smaller landings and ferry points, including Stone Landing and Robinson Pt., highlight the era's reliance on waterborne transit before the full maturation of the regional road system. From the mining community of Black Diamond to the Soldiers Home near Orting, the map documents a territory poised between its frontier origins and its role as a Pacific Northwest hub.