TACOMA Washington Hand Drawn "Blueprint" Map: PRINTTACOMA, Washington. Land of the Puyallup, in the shadow of Mount Tahoma. City of Destiny. She won the title when selected as the western terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1873, beating out Seattle and other emerging cities in the region. Since then, Tacoma has developed as fiercely independent and innovative. Don't compare Tacoma to that city to the north! Tacoma offers a plethora of top museums, great architecture old and new, lovely parks