1894 Topographic Map of Seattle Washington

This 36" x 43" topographic map of Seattle from 1894 is like a time capsule, transporting the viewer back to a time when Seattle was still a tiny timber boomtown, captured between the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and the Klondike Gold Rush that began in 1897. The hills, bays, lakes, islands, points, lighthouses and rivers of Seattle and the surrounding area are all shown with delicately-drawn brown contour lines and precise blue concentric rings filling the water bodies.

Created by the United States Geological Survey under its third director, George Otis Smith, the map depicts Seattle's rail lines and roads, beaches, and outlying communities. Fully-developed city blocks are outlined in dark black, while outside of these areas individual buildings are depicted by small black squares. It is fun to see how much of the surrounding country has no buildings at all, and imagine how much like a wild frontier port Seattle must have appeared in 1894! 

The map is printed on Arches BFK Rives 100% Cotton Rag paper, handmade at the Blanchet Frères & Kléber paper mill in Rives, France on a traditional cylinder paper mould. The subtle texture of the paper is visible with oblique lighting, and adds a richness and depth to the whole piece. 

* NOTE: This is a carefully crafted print of the highest quality, but it is not the original work.

**About our Dark Poplar & Antique Brass Hanging Frames