What the Log Saw – World Forestry Center Honors Log Lady Catherine Coulson

Margaret Lanterman, better known as the Log Lady, is the embodiment of what makes Twin Peaks special. In a complex story that sometimes defies real world logic, Margaret shows us that openness is key to understanding, and a healthy fear of fire goes a long way. In the show, Margaret loses her husband in a devastating blaze on their wedding night. Catherine Coulson, who portrayed the character onscreen, used this backstory as a means to advocate for wildfire prevention. A new exhibit in Portland, Oregon celebrates both the beloved character of the Log Lady and Catherine’s real passion for forestry.

WHAT THE LOG SAW – POP-UP EXHIBIT

On May 1, 2025, a pop-up exhibit titled “What the Log Saw: Honoring the Legacy of Catherine ‘The Log Lady’ Coulson” opened at the World Forestry Center in Portland, Oregon. Thanks to Zoey Yinger, Catherine’s daughter, the original screen-used Log is on public display for the first time.

Zoey first reached out to the World Forestry Center about collaborating on a Log Lady exhibit in January 2025. In March, Catherine’s lifelong friend Jenny Sullivan revealed this plan during a Q&A after a screening of “I Know Catherine, The Log Lady” in Ojai, CA.

“The Log is currently with Zoey, and she came up with this beautiful idea and I’m hoping it all works out…She lives in Portland and there’s the World Forestry [Center] there, and she’s been very upset about all the cuts to federal workers and stuff, and she wanted to do something for this museum,” Jenny said. “The Log is going to be under glass if we can work it all out…So she’s taken on the mantle of her mom, which is so cool.”

Thankfully, this plan came to fruition in a display that would make both Catherine Coulson and Margaret Lanterman proud.

WORLD FORESTRY CENTER IN PORTLAND, OREGON

The World Forestry Center was established as a non-profit educational organization in 1966 and officially opened its doors in 1971.

The stunning modernized Discovery Museum, temporary home to the Log Lady display, opened on June 30, 2005. Since its genesis, the museum has aimed to educate and entertain with interactive exhibits highlighting the importance of forests in our daily lives and the necessity of living sustainably. “What the Log Saw” delightfully checks each of these boxes.

LOG LADY DISPLAY

On Thursday morning, I was among a small group of dedicated Twin Peaks fans eager to see the exhibit as soon as it opened. Glass cases filled with Log Lady artifacts awaited visitors across a Douglas fir walkway on the Discovery Museum’s second floor.

The case on the left contained the original screen-used Log, as well as the Log Lady’s signature red glasses, recently found by Zoey among Catherine’s possessions.

Though identical, this is a different pair than those that have appeared at several recent screenings of the “I Know Catherine, The Log Lady” documentary, which were found by Catherine’s niece Connie Coulson Olivier. It is possible those were used as a backup.

Contrary to some assumptions, this is a real ponderosa pine log – no prop department trickery. Considering David Lynch’s own connection to wood through his father’s work as a research scientist for the United States Forest Service, I don’t think he would’ve accepted anything less.

The bark has become quite brittle with age, and some pieces have been delicately reapplied with glue over the years.

Still, it remains quite hefty. While chatting with Oregonian reporter Samantha Swindler who was on hand to cover the exhibit’s opening, Zoey said, “It feels a lot heavier than it looks” and laughingly compared the Log’s weight to that of a 7-month-old baby.

The side and back of this case featured a promotional shot of Catherine as the Log Lady and a fan-made replica of the character’s acorn brooch.

The other standing case held personal photos, documents, and memorabilia like the Star Pics trading cards released in 1991.

I was excited to see the original stamp with which Catherine imprinted a drawing of the Log on autographed cards that she gave out to fans. This image was drawn by her neighbor and close friend Mindy Alper.

The World Forestry Center was given permission to print cards and stickers with Mindy’s drawing of the Log which are available downstairs in the Discovery Museum’s gift shop while supplies last.

Beneath the stamp is a letter from Elsie W. Cunningham, manager of the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program, addressed to Catherine and David Lynch thanking them for their participation in a fire prevention awareness event. It appears Debby Trutnik, David’s assistant throughout Twin Peaks, received the letter and forwarded it to Catherine who kept it for the rest of her life.

On the left side of the case, family photos show Catherine with her mother Elizabeth proudly holding a cake in the shape of a log, and a wonderful snap of David Lynch holding baby Zoey in the late 1980s.

I also loved the inclusion of a continuity Polaroid of the Log Lady at the Milford wedding in episode 2.011 of Twin Peaks.

At a table to the right, World Forestry Center director of communications Alli Gannett was preparing donuts and coffee as guests continued to file in.

“They’re supposed to be stacked, right?” Alli asked, and I confirmed.

It was a joy seeing Alli and the World Forestry Center staff get in the Twin Peaks spirit. Many are new to the show, with “What the Log Saw” inspiring them to dig in and see what the excitement is about.

Next to Alli and helper Vanessa, one more flat display case lay on the donut table. Please note that this case will only be present for special events during the pop-up’s run, like the exhibit’s unveiling and the museum’s official “Log Lady Day” on May 17.

Some familiar Twin Peaks memorabilia jumped out, like a promotional Log Lady t-shirt, a card distributed by publicist Paula Shimatsu-U at a cast reunion in 2010, former Twin Peaks Festival organizer Pat Shook’s “Twin Peaks Interpretation” book, and “Welcome to Twin Peaks: A Complete Guide to Who’s Who & What’s What” (not to be confused with the officially released “Welcome to Twin Peaks: Access Guide to the Town”).

In addition to behind the scenes photos with cast and crew, I also spotted a few familiar faces from the “I Know Catherine, The Log Lady” documentary. The bottom right photo shows Catherine with Mindy Alper, the aforementioned artist who designed her Log stamp. The top left photo shows Zoey’s godmother Anny Dobrejcer cradling the Log.

A LEGACY OF KINDNESS

Finally, two mounted posters succinctly summarized Catherine Coulson’s legacy. She loved being the Log Lady not just because it was a fun role, but because she saw it as a vehicle for service.

As archival documents in the display indicate, Catherine used her platform to collaborate with those working in forestry to convey the importance of sustainable practices and wildfire prevention. But according to Zoey, this passion extended in many directions.

“She brought me along to rallies as a kid. I went to halfway houses with my dad. It was a huge part of my family,” she said. “Every aspect of her life was about serving others.”

Zoey told me she viewed her film and stage work as their own form of service. Having witnessed her generosity with Twin Peaks fans firsthand, this rings true.

Catherine was the first Twin Peaks cast member I met when I started attending fan events in 2013. She had taken a red-eye flight to Washington to briefly attend the Twin Peaks Festival between her performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. I couldn’t believe she would do that for us during a stressful run of shows.

In July 2015, she once again attended the Festival in the Snoqualmie Valley. As the banquet night wound down, I nearly skipped a photo with Catherine until our mutual friend Charlotte Stewart (Betty Briggs in Twin Peaks) insisted we take one as she got up to leave. The photo was so rushed that neither of us was sure who was holding the camera.

I later learned what Charlotte already knew. Catherine had stage four lung cancer, and weeks later, she was gone. After ten years, my eyes still well up when I think of her knowingly spending her remaining time with fans.

A lot has happened in the years since Catherine passed, and many of the causes that she championed are in dire need of people as passionate and service-minded as her.

“I wish I could ask her about what she thought about our world right now,” Zoey said. “I think I know what she would say.”

SEE THE LOG

“What the Log Saw” runs through June 8, 2025 and is included in the cost of Discovery Museum admission. The museum is open 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday. Twin Peaks fans take note: May 17 has been designated “Log Lady Day” at the World Forestry Center, featuring a lookalike contest at 1:00 p.m. with a bevy of themed prizes. For more info visit worldforestry.org/loglady

Special thanks to Alli Gannett and the World Forestry Center for facilitating this exhibit, and Zoey Yinger for her openness and generosity.