Kirk, Peter, Building - Kirkland, WA - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Peter Kirk, an English entrepreneur, hoped to build a steel empire in the Moss Bay area of what is now Kirkland. In 1889 ground was broken for the building that bears his name, a Romanesque Revival structure with semi-circular arches, recessed doors and windows, and a spectacular corner turret. Bricks for the building were produced from local clay, fired at Kirk's brick works in what is now Peter Kirk Park.

While the financial upheaval of 1893 destroyed Kirk's steel industry dream, the building remained. It changed hands a number of times, serving over the years as a butcher shop, a grocery store, a furniture store and a set of apartments. By the late 1950s, there were few spaces in the structure which did not leak every time it rained.

Local teacher William Radcliffe recognized the potential in the dilapidated building. He and his friends, a group called the Peter Kirk Syndicate, worked to restore the building and establish it as a community arts center. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 (registry #73001873) and began to undergo extensive renovations in 1977.

Today the building houses the Kirkland Arts Center and the Peter Kirk Gallery.

Street address: 620 Market Street Kirkland, WA USA 98033 County / Borough / Parish: King Year listed: 1973 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture, industry Periods of significance: 1875-1899 Historic function: Commerce/Trade Current function: Education Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/20/2011 The Pirate King visited it