Kirkland chooses slogan The Gateway to Seattle on May 18, 1926.

  • By Alan J. Stein
  • Posted 8/14/2000
  • HistoryLink.org Essay 2603
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On May 18, 1926, the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce adopts “Kirkland, The Gateway to Seattle” as the official slogan of the town of Kirkland. The slogan, already in use for several years, is decided upon after a town-wide contest fails to provide a slogan that is as well liked. The $10 prize goes to the Kirkland Woman’s Club for “Kirkland, The Glad Town,” which received the most votes in the contest, but the Chamber decides to stay with “Gateway to Seattle.”

Peppy, Friendly Entries

Interest in the contest was considerable, and most of the townsfolk took great pleasure in providing suggestions for Kirkland’s slogan. Herewith is the complete list of entries:

  • Kirkland, The Glad Town
  • Kirkland, The Comer or Komer
  • Kirkland, The Land of Contentment
  • Land of Promise
  • Land of Sunshine
  • Kirkland, Where Dreams Come True
  • Kirkland, A Charm of the Charmed Land
  • Kirkland, My Land
  • Come and Know What Kirkland Can Grow
  • Kirkland, The Magic City
  • Kirkland, That Bright Spot in Your Memory
  • Kirkland, That Peppy, Friendly City
  • Kirkland, That Busy, Friendly City
  • There’s No Place Like Homey Kirkland
  • Kirkland, The Baby Elephant
  • My Town Kirkland
  • Kirkland, ‘Till Kingdom Come
  • Kirkland, King of the Sound
  • Kirkland is King
  • Kirkland is Queen
  • Kirkland, the Queenly Sea Port
  • Kirkland, Lest We Forget
  • Kum an’ C Us
  • Put Pep in Work for Kirkland’s Weal
  • Kirkland, My Kirkland
  • Kirkland, The Glad Land
  • Kirkland, Blest With the Best
  • Kirkland, Best of the West
  • In Washington, Kirkland Grows
  • Kirkland Offers More
  • Kirkland, Come Grow With Us
  • Kirkland, Paradise of the Pacific
  • Kirkland, Eventually, Why Not Now?
  • Kirkland, Land of Milk and Honey
  • Land of Eldorado
  • Land of Cockaine
  • Land of Prosperity
  • Land of Success
  • Land of Self Content
  • Kirkland, A Good Investment
  • Kirkland, A Stock Broker’s Tip
  • I Believe in Kirkland
  • Kirkland Preferred
  • Present Right, Future Bright
  • Follow the Yellowstone Trail to the Rainbow Land at Kirkland
  • Answer Kirkland’s Call to You
  • Let Kirkland’s Attractions Attract You
  • Let Your Homeland Be Kirkland
  • Steer for Port of Kirkland
  • Fair Kirkland, With Blooming and Bountiful Environment
  • For Landsake, Land at Kirkland
  • Land, for Landsake, at Kirkland
  • Land at Kirkland
  • Let Kirkland Feather Your Nest
  • Kirkland, Alpha and Omega
  • Kirkland Calls You Back
  • Your Longing is for Kirkland
  • Do as Kirkland Does, Live in Kirkland
  • Kirkland, The Eden of the West
  • Kirkland, Paradise of the West
  • Kirkland, Land of Promise
  • Kirkland, Your Opportunity
  • You’ll Want a Home in Kirkland
  • Kirkland for a Future
  • The Happy Surprise
  • The Heart of Happiness
  • Safe at Last
  • Kirkland Satisfies
  • The Heart of the Golden West
  • Kirkland, At the Rainbow’s End
  • Unlimited Resources in Kirkland
  • To Succeed, Kirkland
  • We Succeed in Kirkland
  • Kirkland for Industry and Homes
  • Kirkland for Happiness
  • Success Assured in Kirkland
  • Kirkland, The Oasis of Washington
  • Kirkland. Best in West
  • Wake Up and Speed Up for Kirkland’s Good
  • Diligently Proclaim Kirkland’s Fame
  • Let’s Energize Our Zeal fir Kirkland’s Weal
  • Energize Zeal for Kirkland’s Weal
  • Home at Last, Kirkland
  • Come Home, Kirkland
  • What Say? Kirkland, Let’s Stay
  • Play Land, Kirkland, Home Land
  • Kirkland, Fruitland, Eggland, My Land

The Rest of the Meeting

After voting on the slogan, the Chamber listened to speaker George F. Cotterill (1865-1958), who as Assistant Seattle City Engineer had a hand in much Eastside development through his work on the Cedar River Watershed. Following him, the Puget Sound Power and Light Company gave a program on the building of the Baker River development plant.

The Fourth of July float committee then reported on plans to have a float showing the industrial and home life of the Eastside. The meeting ended with the formal recognition of the Kirkland High School debate team, which had just won the Western Washington championship, and nearly won state honors.


Sources:

“Here They Are: How Can You Expect Judges to Make Decision,”The East Side Journal May 6, 1926, p. 1, 2; ”The Gateway to Seattle Chosen Town’s Slogan,”The East Side Journal May 20, 1926, p. 1.


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