Spokane Reacts
No city is an island. The major historical events of 20th-century America all had their influences on Spokane.
The exhibits in this tour were created by the students in Dr. Larry Cebula's class, Introduction to Public History, taught at Eastern Washington University in 2019. With the guidance of Anna Harbine, the Johnston-Fix Curator of Archives and Special Collections at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, they explored the museum archives for untold stories. Working as a team, they developed the interpretive theme--Spokane Reacts--researched the stories, chose the images, and wrote the interpretive text. The exhibit is on display in the Joel Ferris Research Room at the museum through 2019.
This tour on Spokane Historical expands some of the stories on those 100-word exhibit panels and tells additional tales that could not fit within the exhibit. Here you will find Spokane reacting to such national events as the Great Depression, the internment of Japanese Americans, and the Civil Rights era. In each case, the story in Spokane is not quite the same as what you read in American history textbooks. Our unique local history and culture have shaped the ways that Spokane reacts.
Stories 13
Carl Maxey vs. The Injustices of Spokane: The Bout for Equality
Carl Maxey was an NCAA Boxing legend, whose most important fights were outside the ring. He was the first black man to graduate from Gonzaga Law School in 1951 and fought for African American's civil rights during the 1960s and 70s.
26 Tons of Oddity: The top roadside attraction in Washington State resides right here in Spokane.
The Red Radio Flyer wagon in Riverfront Park was born out of a lifelong love for this community by the Junior League of Spokane. It continues to fulfill its dedication promise.
Denny Yasuhara: Community Leader, Activist, and Mentor: "The greatest gift that one human being can give to another is not their wealth or position, but their honor and dignity for that is the essence of freedom." ~ Denny Yasuhara
Denny Yasuhara's involvement in the formation of the Hifumi En Apartments, his willingness to advocate for the civil rights of the Japanese American community, and his mentorship as a teacher were just a few ways he gave back to Spokane.
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 Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington.
Red Power in Spokane: Supporting Alcatraz and Change—No Violence Necessary
“We, the American Indian Movement of Spokane, [with] members consisting of Indians from 45 different Tribes and Bands throughout the United States and Canada…do hereby go on record supporting the “reclaiming” of the land known as Alcatraz Island.”
The Timely Tale of Dodson's Jewelers: How George Dodson set the standard for a Spokane retail experience.
George Roley Dodson established what would become one of the oldest retail stores in Washington state.
The Collapse of the Division Street Bridge: A Tragedy Paved the Way for Concrete Bridges
With five men dead, twelve injured, and neighborhoods cut off from gas and electricity, the collapse of the Division Street bridge in 1915 remains one of Spokane's worst disasters. In the wake of the tragedy, city planners began to place bridge safety at a higher priority.
Chasing Civil Liberties: One Woman's Influence on Growing Her Hometown
Eleanor Barrow Chase, from a pioneering African American Spokane family line, helped advance civil rights in the city.
Camp Seven Mile: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Creation of Riverside State Park
A lone chimney and and some wayside panels are all that remain of the camp of Civilian Conservation Corps 949th Company.
The Enduring Mystery of F. Lewis Clark: “F. Lewis Clark, Spokane Millionaire, Missing—Suicide?”
The 1914 disappearance of F. Lewis Clark made headlines across the United States and remains shrouded in mystery.
The Burch Brothers Go to War: Three Spokane Lads in the First World War
“I have no feeling or human sympathy for a Hun. They are treacherous and brutal and have no sense of fairness whatever. But they will get an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." --Charles Burch
They Called Him The Sphinx: Robert E. Strahorn, Builder of the North Coast Railroad
During construction of the North Coast Railroad, Robert E Strahorn adopted a persona of mystery in order to keep competitors from learning the secret of his funding.
This is Insulting to Women: Marion Moos Champions Feminism in Spokane
Opened in 1973, Spokane’s first feminist bookstore provided a safe place for womenTour curated by: The Students of EWU in Collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture