The Kirkland Steel Mill that Never Was
Have you ever wondered what Peter Kirk’s steel mill on Rose Hill (near Costco) would have looked like had it actually been completed and begun production of steel railroad rails?
Matt and Kent were part of an interdisciplinary research team that undertook an extensive investigation of Peter Kirk’s ambitious effort to establish a steel manufacturing center on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. The team scoured all available sources of information (including photos of the site under construction) and also created a digital 2-D model, showing both the small amount of the mill site that was constructed as well as the team’s collective best guess about the full extent of what was planned on the 100-acre site.
Their work examined the challenges that ultimately doomed the Kirkland steel enterprise, the economic forces behind its collapse, and the lasting legacy of Peter Kirk’s vision. Although the steel mill itself failed, the town it inspired survived and eventually became the thriving city of Kirkland that we know today.
They presented their findings in two online presentations host by Kirkland Heritage Society several months ago. In case you missed the presentations. recordings are now available on the KHS YouTube channel:
Presenters:
Mike Donnelly
Mike Intlekofer
Matt McCauley
Sandy Middleton
Kent Sullivan
We hope you enjoy learning about this fascinating—and often misunderstood—chapter in Pacific Northwest history.