History of Spokane

Spokane’s first residents were Native American. From the Spokanes, we get our name, which means "Children of the Sun." Spokane became an incorporated City on Nov. 29, 1881, encompassing 1.56 square miles. Back then, the City was known as Spokan Falls and had 350 residents. The "e" was added to Spokane in 1883, and "Falls" was dropped in 1891. The City suffered, perhaps, its biggest setback in 1889, when a fire ravaged downtown destroying 32 blocks.

A new City Hall was built at the southwest corner of Spokane Falls Boulevard and Wall Street in 1913, serving as the City's main offices until the City’s centennial year—1981. The 1920s-era Montgomery Wards building at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Post Street was renovated then to house the City’s offices. Old City Hall now is home to restaurants and shops.

In 1974, Spokane hosted a World's Fair. Expo '74's lasting legacy is Riverfront Park—once a highly used rail yard, the property was converted into a park to host the fair.  Today, Spokane continues to grow and change. We're the second largest City in Washington state and the biggest City between Seattle and Minneapolis.

Spokane, in the centre of a farming area, lies in the east of the state, on the border with Idaho. Features of interest are the Cheney Cowles Museum (local history) and the Riverfront Park boasting a hand-carved roundabout made in 1909. There is skiing on Mount Spokane.

Tourist Attractions in Spokane

Cathedral of St John the Evangelist
The Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Spokane was started in 1925. Some of the impressive features of this Gothic cathedral are the stained glass windows, and the organ with more than 4000 pipes. Tours of St John the Evangelist are available to the public.

Children's Museum
The Children's Museum of Spokane closed it's doors and the collection was integrated with the Mobius Kids.

INB Performing Arts Center (formerly Spokane Opera House)
The INB Performing Arts Center, formerly known as the Spokane Opera House, hosts a variety of musical performances and other major events and conferences. Check the INB Performing Arts Center calendar for information on upcoming performances.

Manito Park
Manito Park in Spokane contains a variety of gardens, including the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden, Lilac Garden, the Renaissance style Duncan Garden, and a conservatory, as well as other areas. Manito Park is open year with a wonderful display of flowers during the summer months.

Mount Spokane
Mount Spokane is home to the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, a popular ski and snowboarding area located northeast of Spokane. The hill features a large number of intermediate and advanced ski runs.

How to reach Spokane

Best Buying Spokane

Shopping: The word alone can get pulses racing and hearts beating among even the most seasoned retail warriors. Oftentimes the word conjures up images of a nattily dressed woman with a big smile on her face, laden with colorful shopping bags and baubles of all shapes and sizes. But let the lady buyer beware - men are proudly joining the ranks of power shoppers and are just as likely to brave the crowds at Spokane shopping centers and malls to get the best buy and the most bang for their hard-earned bucks. Still, it pays to shop smart: call ahead and do a little research on the Web for the items you want. Check out sites with user reviews and be sure to compare prices before you race to the department store. Take a minute to do a little legwork and breathe before you buy - you'll potentially save lots of time and money on scoring that must-have item.

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