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Oh my this map has so much to see and I didn't even see it all.

My one comment is - So many street names outside of the city core don't exist anymore. They have been renamed or numbered. The one that caught my eye was Joy up on Madison. This must be around 20th to 25th. Plus look at West Seattle, same thing going on.

I could spend hours trying to sort this out but have to ask.... do you think he just gave the streets names because the city had not as of yet?

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Robin, Good observation on names. No, the names he used were the street names of the time. In 1895, the city updated and clarified most of its street names. Here's a link to a web site that addresses this issue.

https://ba-kground.com/1895-seattle-street-renaming-searchable-table/

David

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This is amazing for lots of reasons like those you mention. But I'm also interested in this technique which it seems was not unusual for the time. How the heck did they do it? Do you have any resources for a nerd to follow down that rabbit hole? Thanks so much for your gift to us and happy new year to all!

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I know of only one book. Panoramas of Promise: Pacific Northwest Cities and Towns on Nineteenth-Century Lithographs by John Reps

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Hi David - I did find some websites with a little more information about the history and process of this technique for anyone interested:

https://www.vintagecitymaps.com/history/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-hidden-history-of-americas-19th-century-mania-for-panoramic-prints

https://allthatsinteresting.com/vintage-illustrated-panoramic-maps

Cheers,

Patrick

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I'll check it out - thanks :)

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Terrific map! Thank you for sharing it and pointing out the various details. I wish Seattle would have a regular wooden boats festival. Love seeing those masted boats in the harbor! I am a bit surprised to see how much of the surrounding districts were already laid out that early. I suppose that was due to the railroad lines already being in place to haul logs and then people. I know parts of the Burien area were settled early for the timber. First with a stage coach line and then one or more rail lines. As a child the remains of a large stables was still evident on the land just off of what is now 8th Ave S. near 146th Ave S. It has since been built over with housing. But you could see the layout of large stalls and work areas. Thanks again for sharing a map that shows how recently there were still forested areas near Seattle!

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Sandy, Yes, pretty amazing how quickly things developed here and how some forests persisted longer than one might expect. David

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Ooo--this is so much better than a photograph. I love all the details--the ships, trains, and topography. Looking out over toward Lake Washington, seeing how expansive the land is there because so few have populated that area--it's like entering a different world! Closer to the core of the city, I can almost hear the hustle and bustle of trains, ships, trolley cars, and construction you describe. Thanks for this walk into the past.

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Yes, the city noises must have been far different than at present.

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