Seattle, Washington – 1891 Bird’s Eye View Map
Seattle, Washington – 1891 Bird’s Eye View Map
Step into Seattle at the height of its late-19th-century transformation with this richly detailed 1891 bird’s-eye view. Looking south across Elliott Bay toward the city and surrounding hills, the map captures Seattle as a rapidly growing port town shaped by maritime trade, rail expansion, and ambitious urban planning. The hand-colored panorama vividly illustrates the dense waterfront, expanding street grid, wooded hillsides, and bustling harbor filled with sailing vessels and steamships.
Historical Context In 1891, Seattle stood on the edge of dramatic change. Fueled by timber, shipping, and rail connections, the city was recovering from the Great Fire of 1889 and rebuilding with confidence. Just a few years later, the Klondike Gold Rush would propel Seattle onto the national stage. This map preserves the city in that pivotal moment—no longer a frontier outpost, but not yet the modern metropolis it would soon become.
The Map’s Features This panoramic view highlights the early downtown core clustered along Elliott Bay, extensive wharves and piers projecting into the harbor, rail lines converging at the waterfront, residential neighborhoods spreading across rolling terrain, and Lake Union and surrounding inlets framing the city’s geography. Ships of commerce dominate the bay, emphasizing Seattle’s identity as a maritime gateway.
Historical Significance The map documents Seattle’s emergence as the principal port of the Pacific Northwest. It provides a rare visual record of the city’s layout, economy, and relationship to its waterways just before explosive turn-of-the-century growth reshaped the region.
Museum-Quality Reproduction This is a high-quality reproduction of the original 1891 bird’s-eye view, professionally printed on archival Hahnemühle paper using the Giclée printing process to preserve color, fine linework, and period detail for long-term display.
Perfect For:
• Seattle residents and Pacific Northwest natives
• Collectors of 19th-century bird’s-eye city views
• Urban history and maritime history enthusiasts
• Offices, libraries, and study spaces
• Gifts celebrating early Seattle heritage
Specifications:
• Original Publication: 1891
• Publisher: Noted bird’s-eye map publisher (19th century)
• Style: Hand-colored bird’s-eye panoramic city map
• Historical Context: Post–Great Fire Seattle and pre-Gold Rush expansion
• Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print
Dimensions (Width x Height): 27.9 x 18.9
Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclée printing method on Hahnemühle paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map perfect for proud display in your home or office. Digital watermark does not appear on your purchased map.
