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Spokane's Tiger in the Ring: The story of legendary boxer Tiger Jack Fox and his manager, Al Morse.
Tiger Jack Fox "stalked his foes like a panther and he swung like lightning from half way to his knees." When he agreed to be managed by rookie promoter Al Morse, a partnership was formed that would…
The Legendary Chinese Cemeteries of Browne's Addition: Is the first Rosauer's Supermarket really built over Chinese graves?
One popular Spokane urban legend is the tale of a Chinese cemetery buried under the Rosauer's Supermarket in Browne's Addition. This story has recently been doing the rounds on social media platforms…
The Columbia Pharmacy and the Kiyohiros
For 86 years, the southwest corner of Main Avenue and Washington Street was home to one of Spokane's oldest pharmacies.
Monkey Business at the Sillman Hotel
The Davenport’s “Matador Room” did not actually feature bullfighting, the Desert Hotel’s “Mirage Room” could only offer such hallucinations as alcohol provided, and the Coeur d’Alene Hotel’s “Donkey…
Fast Times at the Hotel Emery: Brawls, thefts, scams, and scandals filled the brief life of this downtown hotel.
One of the early hostelries for visitors to Spokane Falls was the Hotel Emery, a two-story brick building on Riverside between Washington and Bernard that opened in 1892. The building's first owner is…
The Parsons Hotel: The historic Parsons Hotel has known good times and bad, mirroring the rest of downtown Spokane
Located on the southwest corner of Jefferson and First Avenue, the Parsons Hotel opened in 1910 as a family-oriented hotel with 104 rooms. It was built in 1909 by W. E. Parsons, a railroad man and…
The United States Pavilion: Expo '74 and Riverfront Park Tour - Stop 11
In 1974, Spokane became the smallest city to ever host a World's Fair. The community used the opportunity to re-vitalize the depressed downtown district. The Great Northern Railroad Depot, which had…
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
In the 1920s, Episcopal Bishop Edward Makin Cross endeavored to create a successor to the All Saints Cathedral, which stood Downtown. He contracted the services of congregation member Harold C.…
St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Convent
St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Covent is a landmark of religious history in Spokane. Finished in 1901, the Church was a marvel of Late Gothic Revival architecture. It is build on the grounds that…
Spokane Parental School
[Private Residence]
Built not to imprison or punish, but to educate, the Spokane Parental School was an innovation in education and corrections. In 1907, the city board of education authorized the…
Washington Street Bridge
In 1908, the Washington Street Bridge was constructed over the Spokane River, to provide an avenue for the rapidly growing city's population. The 242 feet bridge was constructed by the Wallace-Coates…
Totem Pole: Fort George Wright Tour - Story 6
Col. George Wright would be shocked to find a symbol of the continued survival of the Native American cultural tradition at the military base that bore his name. Yet the Fort Wright Totem Pole stands…
Who Was George Wright?: Fort George Wright Tour
The Fort George Wright monument tells the story of the fort from its creation in 1895 to its acquisition by the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute in 1990. The Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute has started…
WWII Convalescent Hospital
Training for combat at Fort George Wright gave way to recovery and recuperation during the Second World War. In 1941, Fort Wright had changed hands and become part of the United States Army Air…
Fort George Wright Cemetery: Fort George Wright Tour
When Fort George Wright was constructed in the 1890s, effort was made to ensure a proper final resting place could be afforded the men who died there while serving in the military. A peaceful spot was…
Frontier Justice at Fort George Wright: Fort George Wright Tour
It was the night of August 14th 1916 and Edward F. Mayberry was on the run. Three witnesses had seen Mayberry murder 35 year old Native American woman Alice Vivian on the Colville Reservation near…
Barracks and Buffaloes: Fort George Wright Tour
The 24th Infantry regiment contained the famous all-black "Buffalo Soldiers" who had fought bravely in the capture of San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. The regiment had endured many…
Welcome to Historic Fort George Wright: Fort George Wright Tour
By the end of the 19th century, after generations of hard frontier living and occasionally violent interactions with the native population, the United States had firmly established itself in the…
Theodore Roosevelt on the Parade Grounds: Fort George Wright Tour
You are standing where Teddy Roosevelt stood on April 8th 1911, reviewing the 500 heroic African-American troops of the 25th Infantry as they passed in review. The 25th Infantry had served with…
No Vacancy, Racial Bigotry Raises Its Ugly Head: Spokane had its own segregated public facilities in the Jim Crow era, and the Davenport Hotel was one such business.
Before making his claim to fame in 1945 the up-and-coming visited Spokane Washington where he was schedule to perform at a theater. The black musician Sammy Davis Jr. was refused a room at the…
Time’s Up: Spokane Community College's Clock Tower will soon be torn down to make way for the construction of the North Spokane corridor
The sands of time are running low for the massive concrete Clock Tower that stands at the entrance of the Spokane Community College. The Washington State Department of Transportation has been trying…
The Steptoe Defeat, 1858
Steptoe's foray into Coeur d'Alene Indian lands in the spring of 1858 led to the Wright Campaign against these people later in the year.
Cheney Fire of 1889: In the 1800s, American cities were often built of wood and heated with fire. Sometimes, they burned.
Miscreant act leads to disaster for Cheney in 1889.
The Many Names of Cheney, Washington: What were the many names of Cheney throughout the years?
Both whites and Indians had many names for Cheney, but the opportunity for patronage from a powerful railroad executive finally settled the matter.
The Harrington Opera House and Bank Block
The Harrington Opera House and Bank Block building housed the Bank of Harrington, one of the first banks in the city. The building was designed by local construction firm J.R. Burrill and Company and…
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge was created in response to Executive Order Number 7681 signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt which was signed on July 30, 1937. The refuge, originally named the…
Governor Martin Alumni House
The house that now contains the Eastern Washington University Alumni Association, was originally one of three houses that Governor Clarence Martin owned in Cheney. The house served as the Governor's…
David Lowe House
*Please note: This is a private residence, please be respectful of the property and the resident's right to privacy.
This beautifully crafted house was built in 1904 by local retired farmer David…
Pearce Hall
Pearce Hall was built in 1964 as a male dormitory. Currently the largest residence hall on campus, Peace Hall consists of 12 floors, 7 coed and 4 gender specific floors, as well as a main lobby with a…
Washington State Archives, Digital Archives
Opening in 2004, the Washington State Archives Building was created to house both the Eastern Washington Regional Archives and both state and local government Digital Archives. It was the first…