Taking Stock, Spokane Hotel, 1916

On the eve of Spokane's prohibition (starting January 1, 1916) hotels hosted the biggest New Year's celebrations the city had ever seen. Even after that, hotels still had a surplus of alcohol and often sold it illegally. This image of a city official taking stock of contraband liquor found at the Spokane Hotel was one of the biggest early busts.

Image L93-18.54 courtesy of the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture.