Mapping Vashon

by Brian Brenno and Jim Sherman

Exhibit runs from October 6th, 2017 through March 25th, 2018.

Coming from multi-generational Vashon families, we grew up hearing stories of the Island's past, creating a keen interest in Island history in both of us. In 2011, we teamed up and created the Facebook page, Old Vashon Pictures and Stories. We both love maps, they give us information about the geographical structure of the Island, it’s rich human history and connect us to our Island heritage. We have gathered a selection of maps from 1792 to 2017 to tell the story of the relationship between the natural environment and human activity.

Early maps from Captain George Vancouver's chart of 1792, which gives a distorted view of the Island he named Vashon's Island, to Charles Wilkes 1841 detailed map of the island's shores, show European and American explorations to claim land. In the 1920s anthropologists mapped the sx? w?babš native people's village and hunting and gathering sites.

Geological maps show the interior of the Island first mapped by the U.S. Government in 1857, allowing the island to be claimed by American settlers and providing the basis for today's maps. A section of this map was carried by SD Sherman in the 1870’s as he scouted for land to homestead on Vashon Island.

Land ownership maps starting in the early 1900s show how the original homesteads were divided into smaller properties, when viewed chronologically, property maps show dramatic change in island land use over eighty plus years.

Road maps, show how automobiles changed the mode of transportation and opened new areas for development. These maps show the ever-expanding road system and the addition of ferry docks as the steamboat routes declined.

Illustrated maps show information map makers felt was important to know by adding historical sites and information to their maps.

Maps of the town of Vashon show the growth and development of the island's main town from 1914 and 1996.

We would like to thank Bruce Haulman for his insight and expertise, Royce Wall for his design skills and Gene Sherman for historical fact checks. This exhibit would not be possible without the help and sponsorship by, 4 Culture, GreenTree Dozing, Christopher Hunt & Associates and Vashon Print and Design.

Thank you to our Exhibit Sponsors