Map of the City of Tacoma & Vicinity, Washington

A huge map of Tacoma, Washington during the height of the Roaring 20s.

This large and detailed map of Tacoma, Washington, was designed and published in 1927 by local civil engineer David H. White. The image captures the ‘Lumber Capital of the World’ as it was transitioning from a Pacific Northwest boomtown into an important regional shipping hub and industrial powerhouse. Of particular note is the Port of Tacoma (center right), which opened its first commercial pier only six years earlier.

The meticulous street plan identifies numerous locations of interest, neighborhoods and subdivisions, and even specific block and house numbers. Green overprinting highlights the extent of paved streets and public parks, while yellow hues note graded streets and the land allocated to public schools. Other important infrastructure includes ferry landings, major industries, railroads, and the transmission line spanning the Narrows. Gulches, major physical obstacles for key infrastructure and headaches for engineers, are carefully pinpointed with small hachures.