After Twin Peaks Day 2026 was acknowledged by the Mayors of Snoqualmie and North Bend, Washington, long-time Valley resident Karl Reinsch and I set out for downtown Seattle. During the Metropolitan King County Council meeting on February 24, District 3 Councilmember Sarah Perry recognized the day with a special proclamation drafted by Karl.
METROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL
The Metropolitan King County Council oversees the second largest government and the most populous county in Washington State. With more than 2.3 million residents, King County is the 12th largest county in the U.S. As the legislative branch of county government, the Council sets policies, enacts laws, and adopts budgets that guide an array of services for county residents. The Council’s nine councilmembers are elected on a non-partisan basis and serve four-year terms. Each councilmember represents a geographical district of over 260,000 residents.
The council meeting was held in the King County Courthouse, located at 516 Third Avenue in downtown Seattle.
Karl parked nearby in a lot next to the historic Arctic Building which was lined with spectacular walrus reliefs. In the early 1900s, the Alaska Club merged with the Arctic Club which prompted the construction of this building. In 1917, architect A. Warren Gould “pioneered the use of lightweight glazed molded terra cotta over a reinforced concrete frame” to create these ornamentations. The club would remain in the building until 1971. It was owned privately, occupied by the city of Seattle and became a boutique hotel. It’s listed on the Washington and National Registers of Historic Places. More information about how these walrus reliefs were restored is found on this website.
In the distance, I spotted Smith Tower which was once the tallest building in Seattle. This skyscraper with a great view of the city is found near Pioneer Square. Once you visit the top, head down to 240 Second Avenue South to find the exterior of Horne’s Department Store from Twin Peaks.
The council meeting was held on the 10th floor of the courthouse building which was accessible via elevator.
I was fascinated by the decorative murals that lined the hall. We didn’t have time before the meeting to examine them.
TWIN PEAKS DAY PROCLAMATION IN KING COUNTY, WA
Upon entering the council chambers, we found staff had reserved seats for us with a paper stating “Twin Peaks Guest.” What a delightful surprise! This trip was my eleventh visit to Washington state since 1996. I’ve always felt welcomed with every visit and this small gesture was yet another sign of what makes Washington state so special.
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