	Kirkland, Washington is located in the Seattle Metropolitan area on Lake Washington along the Eastern Shore, just over the Evergreen Point floating bridge from Seattle. Its main entrance is Interstate-405 Exit 18. Kirkland boosts the most waterfront parks on Lake Washington and therefore offers a wide range of outdoor activities. History Peter Kirk, a steel tycoon from England, settled in the Northwest in 1886. His dream was to create a steel town by Lake Washington. Together with his prominent Seattle business partners he built the Moss Bay Iron and Steel Works mill in 1892. The next spring a stock market crash caused a financial panic that swept the nation and the mill closed without ever producing any steel. Kirk never did see his dreams of a “Pittsburgh of the West” coming to fruition, and he later retired to the San Juan Islands. The City of Kirkland rebounded from the financial trouble though and went into the business of wool mining making wool products for Gold Rush prospectors headed to Alaska and the U.S. Military in World War I. Kirkland also became popular for ship building constructing ferries on Lake Washington and later warships for the U.S. Navy.

	Kirkland Arts Kirkland attracts artists and art lovers from around the world. It offers an abundance of fine art galleries, outdoor sculptures throughout the town and many organizations devoted to the arts along with the Kirkland Performance Center and the Kirkland Arts center. The local galleries host a popular monthly art walk.
Kirkland's Waterfront Parks and Beaches Panoramic views of the Seattle skyline, Lake Washington and nearby mountain ranges offer breathtaking views from the many waterfront parks in Kirkland. It is easy to get out on the water here whether motor boating, sailing, kayaking or windsurfing. Trails for biking and hiking are plentiful in the parks.
	Downtown Kirkland An eclectic assortment of specialty shops, boutiques and restaurants make up the quaint downtown area. Whether you are looking for fashion or home furnishings, jewelry or art, there will be something that appeals to shoppers in the downtown Kirkland area.


Kirkland Chamber of Commerce 401 Parkplace Suite 102 Kirkland, WA 98033 425-822-7066 www.kirklandchamber.org	*Visitor information about Kirkland* hosted by the City of Kirkland, Chamber, and the Downtown Business Association. http://www.explorekirkland.com/

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