At the height of the Jan. 7 flood, the former Bank of America building in Snoqualmie was surrounded by dozens of parked cars, the owners seeking a dry spot for the vehicles in times of high water.

That high elevation was a big reason why the Snoqualmie Tribe is putting its central records and archives into the building.

Tribal members moved furniture into the building last week from the existing Tribal administration building on Falls Avenue to the former bank at 8565 S.E. River St.

Tribal Administrator Matt Mattson said the building’s higher elevation was an important feature.

The tribe will store precious and historic materials at the site.

Residents have been parking at the bank site for decades, Mattson said, because the bank is known to be high ground.

The Tribe will lease the bank building, which did duty this past summer as a temporary state liquor store. The liquor store closed in November.