173-566: Natatorium Park was a park in Spokane, Washington . It was originally the site of Ingersoll Park where a baseball field was built and became known as Twickenham Park, for the neighborhood that developed around it, until the natatorium was built. The swimming facility closed in 1968. It used heated saltwater from the Spokane River . A greenhouse and gardens were added. It was switched to well water. The song "Dear Old Nat" by A. D. Scammell
346-708: A Radio Flyer wagon. The Red Wagon is located along Spokane Falls Boulevard on Riverfront Park's southern boundary, between the First Interstate Center for the Arts and the Looff Carousel , and diagonally across from the Davenport Grand Hotel . Created by local sculptor, Ken Spiering, the feature stands 12 feet (3.7 m) high, spans 27 feet (8.2 m) long, and weighs 26 tons from its steel and concrete structure. The sculpture
519-529: A construction management technique, and by mid-December 1972, the GSA began the process of selecting a construction management firm through an invitation-to-bid process, eventually selecting California-based Rhodes-Schmidt as the low bidder. Due to time constraints, the GSA decided to use a phased-bid project delivery method so that as soon as the architects completed a portion of the design, it could be put out to bid for construction. The first construction contract
692-653: A fur trading post on the Spokane River, which flows west from Lake Coeur d'Alene to the Columbia River , and trade with the local Indians. This post was established in 1810, at the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane rivers, becoming the first enduring European settlement of significance in what later became Washington state. Known as the Spokane House , or simply "Spokane", it
865-624: A confederation of tribes in engagements at the battles of Four Lakes and Spokane Plains . The cessation of hostilities opened the inter-mountain valley of the Pacific Northwest to colonial expansion and safe habitation by settlers. Joint American–British occupation of Oregon Country , in effect since the Treaty of 1818 , eventually led to the Oregon Boundary Dispute after a large influx of American settlers along
1038-531: A daily circulation of over 76,000. The first humans to live in the Spokane area were hunter-gatherers that lived off plentiful fish and game; early human remains have been dated to 8,000 to 13,000 years ago. The Spokane tribe, after which the city is named (the name meaning "children of the sun" or "sun people" in Salishan ), are believed to be either their direct descendants, or descendants of people from
1211-665: A direct link (neither physically or visually) between the two ends of the park. Other major north—south paths through the park include pedestrian suspension bridges over the Upper Spokane Falls toward the west end of the park, pedestrian bridges near the east end that connect the First Interstate Center for the Arts with a hotel on the north bank of the river, and the Washington Street Bridge which carries cars and pedestrians through
1384-830: A distinct identity and illustrate the changes throughout the city's history. Most of Spokane's notable buildings and landmarks are in the Riverside neighborhood and the downtown commercial district, where many of the buildings were rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1889 in the Romanesque Revival style. Examples include the Great Northern clock tower, Review Building, Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes , First Congregational Church , Washington Water Power Post Street substation , Peyton Building, and The Carlyle. The principal architect of many buildings of this period
1557-405: A firm that would later merge with other firms and eventually become NAC Architecture . In January 1973, after unsuccessful negotiations with Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill, who was already on the design team, a contract for the pavilion's final design was awarded to Seattle-based architecture firm Naramore, Bain, Brady & Johanson, now known as NBBJ . The final design differed slightly from
1730-416: A group called Spokane Unlimited was formed by local business leaders to try and revitalize downtown Spokane. The group would hire New York-based Ebasco Services to create an urban renewal plan, which was released in 1961 and called for the removal of the numerous train tracks and trestles in downtown and reclaiming the attractiveness of the Spokane River in the central business district. The plan proposed
1903-525: A horse to a frying pan". It would keep this status for subsequent rushes in the region due to its trade center status and accessibility to railroad infrastructure. Spokane's growth continued unabated until August 4, 1889, when a fire, now known as The Great Fire (not to be confused with the Great Fire of 1910 , which happened nearby), began just after 6:00 p.m., and destroyed the city's downtown commercial district. Due to technical problems with
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#17328007304102076-420: A hub for passenger and freight rail transport and remained that way for several decades. By the mid-20th century, the problems of having a large amount of railroads in the middle of the city were beginning to be realized. The elevated railway, warehouses, and other lines leading into the park severely restricted both physical and visual access to the Spokane River and its falls, leading some locals to compare it to
2249-527: A male householder with no partner present, and 31.4% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was 2.21 and the median family size was 2.96. The age distribution was 18.8% under 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. Riverfront Park (Spokane, Washington) Riverfront Park , branded as Riverfront Spokane ,
2422-470: A more rugged aesthetic that more closely resembles the appearance of the natural environment. The park was dedicated in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter in a ceremony on May 5 that was attended by roughly 50,000 people. Riverfront Park had remained largely unchanged and had not seen any major investments since its conversion to a park after Expo '74 and many of its physical facilities were beginning to show their age and disrepair. In 2012, with
2595-667: A new business and occupation tax that the Spokane City Council passed in September 1971 after a ballot bond measure to provide local funding failed the month prior. The event was officially recognized by then-President Richard Nixon in October 1971, and the following month, the Bureau of International Expositions gave their sign-off on the event as well. With approvals and funding falling in place, one last challenge
2768-506: A number of fishing camps near the base of the falls. The first American settlers came in 1871, establishing a claim and building a sawmill near the falls that would later be purchased by James N. Glover , who was aware of the water power potential of the falls and that the Northern Pacific Railroad Company had received a government charter to build a main line through the area. By the late 19th century, much of
2941-626: A pavilion constructed by the United States government. Additionally, in order to ensure a good cost-benefit to the U.S. government, it was recommended that the pavilion be designed to be permanent and remain after the fair for residual use by the Department of the Interior as a component of a civic center and urban park (what is now Riverfront Park) that would be left over as a legacy after Expo '74 concluded. A four-acre plot of land within
3114-575: A plain that eventually rises sharply to the east towards the rugged, timbered Selkirk Mountains . The foothills of the Rockies —the Coeur d'Alene Mountains —rise about 25 miles (40 km) to the east in north Idaho. The city is in a transition area between the barren landscape of the Columbia Basin and the coniferous forests to the east; to the south are the lush prairies and rolling hills of
3287-502: A plaza between Spokane City Hall and the Post Street Electric Substation and a combined sewer overflow project featuring a 2,200,000 US gallons (8,300,000 L) subterranean storm water tank with a multi-level plaza on top of it above ground, connecting the sidewalk fronting Spokane City Hall with a wide promenade, the A Place of Truths Plaza, that overlooks Huntington Park and reaches the south landing of
3460-488: A public push to save it and has now become a Spokane icon , reminding people of the role that railroading played in the development of Spokane. This local historic preservation effort was headed by Jerry Quinn, who organized a group that sought to preserve the Great Northern Railway depot in its entirety called "Save Our Stations", although failing in that effort at the ballot box, the committee overseeing
3633-424: A public vote later that year. In November 2014, Spokane voters passed a $ 64.3 million bond to redevelop Riverfront Park. The bond measure was approved by 67 percent of votes, having the required 60 percent to pass. Passage of the bond measure, called Proposition No. 2 did not raise taxes on citizens as it effectively replaced another parks special property tax that was set to expire. The new bonds raised to pay for
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#17328007304103806-436: A publicity stunt. Many Wobblies were incarcerated, including feminist labor leader Elizabeth Gurley Flynn , who published her account in the local Industrial Worker . After mining declined at the turn of the 20th century, agriculture and logging became the primary influences in the Spokane economy. The population explosion and the building of homes, railroads, and mines in northern Idaho and southern British Columbia fueled
3979-406: A pump station, there was no water pressure in the city when the fire started. In a desperate bid to starve the fire, firefighters began razing buildings with dynamite. Eventually, the winds and the fire died down; 32 blocks of Spokane's downtown core had been destroyed and one person was killed. Despite this catastrophe, and in part because of it, Spokane experienced a building boom. The downtown
4152-420: A small sawmill on a claim near the south bank of the falls. James N. Glover and Jasper Matheney, Oregonians passing through the region in 1873, recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls for the purpose of water power. They realized the investment potential and bought the claims of 160 acres (65 ha) and the sawmill from Downing and Scranton for a total of $ 4,000. Glover and Matheney knew that
4325-487: A solitary wolf in Mount Spokane State Park. Although the ecoregion remains ecologically intact, it faces conservation challenges that include the negative effects of certain forestry management and logging practices, higher risks of forest fires due to the alteration of the trees that make up the forest composition, and habitat fragmentation as a result of urban sprawl and development, which endangers
4498-448: A timeline that would incrementally renew the area over the next two decades, wrapping up in 1980, and proposed that the effort be funded through bonds, gas taxes, and urban renewal money from the federal government. One part of the plan, and the first portion to go to voters for approval, would have constructed a new government center. However, efforts to pass bonds to fund the construction were overwhelmingly defeated by Spokane voters over
4671-625: A total area of 60.02 square miles (155.45 km ), of which 59.25 square miles (153.46 km ) is land and 0.77 square miles (1.99 km ) is water. Spokane lies mostly within the Spokane Valley Outwash Plains at the periphery of the North Central Rockies forests ecoregion and partly within the eastern edge of the basaltic Channeled Scablands steppe of the Columbia Plateau ecoregion,
4844-565: A vision to reinvigorate Riverfront Park for the next generation, the Spokane Park Board approved the beginnings of an updated master plan for the park. This first phase of the new master plan would outline general concepts only, but in June 2013, details and estimated costs began to be developed by a 20-member advisory committee. Aspirations for the park's future included using it as a key fixture in downtown Spokane to draw more people to
5017-659: A year. Spokane's location, between the Cascades Range to the west and the Rocky Mountains to the east and north, protects it from weather patterns experienced in other parts of the Pacific Northwest . The Cascade Mountains form a barrier to the eastward flow of moist and relatively mild air from the Pacific Ocean in winter and cool air in summer. As a result of the rain shadow effect of
5190-549: Is a gondola lift ride located at the southeast corner of Riverfront Park that takes people westward from the park, past Spokane City Hall and over Huntington Park, descending down into the Spokane River gorge to view the Lower Spokane Falls. The ride then crosses the river and makes a loop back toward Riverfront Park after passing beneath the Monroe Street Bridge. The current iteration of the ride
5363-546: Is a public urban park in downtown Spokane, Washington that is owned and operated by the Spokane Parks & Recreation Department. The 100-acre (40 ha) park is situated along the Spokane River and encompasses the Upper Spokane Falls , which is the largest urban waterfall in the United States. The site of the park and the surrounding falls were a Native American gathering place, which had
Natatorium Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
5536-425: Is also known for its built attractions. Two of Riverfront Park's structures, the U.S. Pavilion and Great Northern clock tower, are a couple of Spokane's most recognizable landmarks and have been featured prominently in the logo of Riverfront Park for a number of years. While prior versions of the park's logos depicted the two landmarks more literally, the park's latest logo, released in 2017, features abstractions of
5709-499: Is considered one of its founders, passed through the region with his business partner Jasper N. Matheney. The two, who recognized the value of the Spokane River and its falls for the purpose of water power and were also aware that the Northern Pacific Railroad Company had received a government charter to build a main line through the area (a line that would eventually become the Northern Transcon route), proceeded to buy
5882-476: Is controlled by a solid 700 lb (320 kg) brass pendulum that needs to be hand-cranked every week by park staff. While the clock chimes every hour, it has never had bells in its entire history. Even when it was first built, it had electronic speakers that replicated chime tones. The U.S. Pavilion, officially named the U.S. Federal Pavilion, and also referred to as the Pavilion at Riverfront , or simply
6055-591: Is currently being renovated and modernized (as of October 2016). Manito Park and Botanical Gardens on Spokane's South Hill features the Duncan Gardens, a classical European Renaissance -style garden and the Nishinomiya Japanese Garden designed by Nagao Sakurai . Riverside State Park, close to downtown, is a site for outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding. The Spokane area has many trails and rail trails ,
6228-466: Is known as the birthplace of Father's Day , and locally by the nickname of "Lilac City". Officially, Spokane goes by the nickname of Hooptown USA , due to Spokane's annual hosting of the Spokane Hoopfest , the world's largest basketball tournament. The city and the wider Inland Northwest area are served by Spokane International Airport , 5 miles (8 km) west of Downtown Spokane , which
6401-427: Is located just north of the downtown Spokane core, in Spokane's Riverside neighborhood, and is generally bounded by Spokane Falls Boulevard to the south, Post Street to the west, and the northern banks of the Spokane River , and Division Street to the east. Portions of its North Bank area extend farther north from the river, bounded by Howard Street to the west, Cataldo Avenue to the north, and Washington Street to
6574-465: Is located near another airfield at Fairchild Air Force Base . According to the 2010 census , Spokane had a population of 208,916, making it the 2nd-most populous city in Washington , and the 97th-most populous city in the United States . At the 2020 census , Spokane's population was 228,989. A 2023 estimate sets the population of the metropolitan area at 600,292. The first people to live in
6747-469: Is now Riverfront Park was a hub for passenger and freight rail transport and remained that way for several decades. In 1972, the active railyards were removed, and the area around the Spokane Falls reclaimed, when construction commenced on an urban renewal project that built a fairground to host the upcoming environmentally-themed Expo '74 World's fair . Post-fair plans for the site which hosted
6920-517: Is still trying to make the transition to a more service-oriented economy in the face of a less prominent manufacturing sector. Developing the city's strength in the medical and health sciences fields has seen some success, resulting in the expansion of the University District with two medical school branches. The city faces challenges such as a scarcity of high-paying jobs, pockets of poverty, and areas of high crime. The opening of
7093-610: Is the Washington-native rainbow trout , which is the official fish of Washington state. Big game common in eastern Washington include black and grizzly bears, caribou , Rocky Mountain elk , bighorn sheep, and cougar. Whitetail deer, mule deer, and moose are also found in abundance. The gray wolf population has been making a recovery in the Inland Northwest. As of June 2016, there are 16 wolf packs in eastern Washington. In August 2016, photo evidence confirmed
Natatorium Park - Misplaced Pages Continue
7266-562: Is the central business district of Spokane. The neighborhoods south of downtown Spokane are collectively known as the South Hill. Downtown Spokane contains many of the city's public facilities, including City Hall, Riverfront Park (site of Expo '74), and the Spokane Convention Center, First Interstate Center for the Arts and Spokane Arena. The Spokane County Courthouse and public safety campus is adjacent to downtown in
7439-627: Is the closest natural reserve, the closest National Forest is the Colville National Forest , the closest National Recreation Area is the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area and the closest national park is Mount Rainier National Park , approximately a four-and-a-half hour drive from Spokane. Spokane's neighborhoods range from the Victorian -style South Hill and Browne's Addition, to
7612-551: Is the official tree of the City of Spokane, which is where specimens were first collected by botanist David Douglas in 1826. The Canadian Rockies ecoregion supports 70 mammals, 16 reptiles and amphibians, 168 birds, and 41 fish species. There is a high concentration of raptors in the area, bald eagles are a common sight near Lake Coeur d'Alene in December and January when kokanee spawn. The most common fish present in area lakes
7785-697: The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist serves as that of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane . The Spokane Washington Temple in the east of the county serves the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Gonzaga University was established in 1887 by the Jesuits , and the private Presbyterian Whitworth University was founded three years later and moved to north Spokane in 1914. In sports,
7958-470: The Chicago World's Fair in 1893, Cutter found work constructing many mansions for mining and railroad tycoons such as Patrick "Patsy" Clark and Daniel C. Corbin and son Austin. The older neighborhoods of the early 20th century, such as West Central, East Central, Logan , Hillyard, and much of the lower South Hill, feature a large concentration of American Craftsman style bungalows . In Hillyard,
8131-781: The Great Plains . When asked by early white explorers, the Spokanes said their ancestors came from "up North." Early in the 19th century, the Northwest Fur Company sent two white fur trappers west of the Rocky Mountains to search for fur . These were the first white men met by the Spokanes, who believed they were sacred, and set the trappers up in the Colville River valley for the winter. The explorer-geographer David Thompson , working as head of
8304-484: The Great Wall of China . Additionally, the high volume of train traffic created a very noisy downtown, and numerous at-grade railroad crossings were causing traffic congestion issues. In the 1950s, the core of downtown Spokane began to empty out due to suburbanization , a trend that was prevalent amongst many American cities during this time. This trend sparked urban renewal discussions in Spokane and in 1959,
8477-577: The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), or "Wobblies" as they were often known, whose free speech fights had begun to garner national attention. Now, with grievances concerning the unethical practices of the employment agencies, they initiated a free speech fight in September 1908 by purposely breaking a city ordinance on soapboxing . With IWW encouragement, union members from many western states came to Spokane to take part in what had become
8650-581: The National Mall in Washington, D.C. , and Central Park in New York City . Zoning regulations along this southern edge have been debated, pitting developers ' concerns that height restrictions are hindering development against concerns that increased building heights along Spokane Falls Boulevard would cast undesirable shadows onto the park below. The park is also well connected to
8823-787: The Nine Mile Dam . As it meanders westward through the park, it passes by many of the park's features including the Spokane Convention Center, First Interstate Center for the Arts, Red Wagon, Looff Carrousel, Rotary Fountain, and the Numerica SkyRide and Skate Ribbon. The trail exits the west end of the park via the Post Street Bridge, continuing on underneath the Monroe Street Bridge toward Kendall Yards , and eventually, Riverside State Park . The origins of Riverfront Park are heavily influenced by
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#17328007304108996-918: The North West Company 's Columbia Department , became the first European to explore the Inland Empire (now called the Inland Northwest ). Crossing what is now the Canada–US border from British Columbia , Thompson wanted to expand the North West Company further south in search of furs. After establishing the Kullyspell House and Saleesh House trading posts in what are now Idaho and Montana, Thompson then attempted to expand further west. He sent out two trappers, Jacques Raphael Finlay and Finan McDonald, to construct
9169-431: The Northern Pacific Railroad Company had received a government charter to build a main line across this northern route . Amid many delays in construction and uncertainty over the completion of the railroad and its exact course, Matheney sold his interest in the claim to Glover. Glover confidently held on to his claim and became a successful Spokane business owner and the city's second mayor. He later came to be known as
9342-609: The Oregon Trail . Great Britain ceded its claims to lands in Puget Sound and the central and lower Columbia Basin by the Oregon Treaty of 1846. The Hudson's Bay Company wound up its operations in the area over the next few years. In what is now Spokane, the first American settlers were J.J. Downing and S.R. Scranton, cattle ranchers who squatted and established a claim at Spokane Falls in 1871. Together they built
9515-646: The Palouse . The highest peak in Spokane County is Mount Spokane , at an elevation of 5,883 feet (1,793 m), on the eastern side of the Selkirk Mountains. The Spokane River is the area's most prominent water feature, a 111-mile (179 km) tributary of the Columbia River , originating from Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. The river flows west across the Washington state line through downtown Spokane, meeting Latah Creek , then turns to
9688-421: The Queen Anne and early American Craftsman styles. The area houses the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. In northeast Spokane, the Hillyard neighborhood began in 1892 as the chosen site for James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway yard, placed outside Spokane city limits to avoid "burdensome taxes". The downtown Hillyard Business District, located on Market Street, was the first Spokane neighborhood listed in
9861-420: The River Park Square in 1999 served as a catalyst and sparked a downtown rebirth that included the building of the Spokane Arena and expansion of the Spokane Convention Center . Other major projects include the building of the Big Easy concert house (now the Knitting Factory ) and renovation of the historic Montvale Hotel , the Kirtland Cutter-designed Davenport Hotel (after being vacant for over 20 years),
10034-421: The Santa Monica Pier . Spokane's carousel, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and still operates for riders today, was built in 1909 as a wedding gift from Looff to his daughter Emma and her husband Louis Vogel. The ride was first installed in nearby Natatorium Park, and operated there until the park's closure in 1968. When Expo '74 came, organizers originally wanted to bring
10207-425: The Selkirk Mountains , and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border , 18.5 miles (30 km) west of the Washington– Idaho border, and 279 miles (449 km) east of Seattle , along Interstate 90 . Spokane is the economic and cultural center of the Spokane metropolitan area , the Spokane–Coeur d'Alene combined statistical area , and the Inland Northwest . It
10380-463: The first church in the Spokane area. In 1853, two years after the establishment of the Washington Territory, the first governor, Isaac Stevens , made an initial effort to make a treaty with Chief Garry and the Spokanes at Antoine Plantes' Ferry, not far from Millwood . After the last campaign of the Yakima Indian War , the Coeur d'Alene War of 1858 was brought to a close by the actions of Col. George Wright , who won decisive victories against
10553-406: The "Father of Spokane". In 1880, Fort Spokane was established by U.S. Army troops under Lt. Col. Henry C. Merriam 56 miles (90 km) northwest of Spokane, at the junction of the Columbia and Spokane Rivers, to protect the construction of the Northern Pacific Railway and secure a place for U.S. settlement. By June 30, 1881, the railway reached the city, bringing major European settlement to
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#173280073041010726-412: The 1920s and 1930s remained slow but less drastically so, forcing city boosters to market the city as a quiet, comfortable place suitable for raising a family rather than a dynamic community full of opportunity. The Inland Empire was heavily dependent on natural resources and extractive goods produced from mines, forests, and farms, which experienced a fall in demand. The situation improved slightly with
10899-919: The 1960s and 1970s where his main body of work was done in the modernist style, designing numerous residential houses, apartment buildings, and architectural embellishments. Some of his most noteworthy works in Spokane include The Parkade , Spokane International Airport, Spokane Regional Health Building, and the Burlington Northern Latah Creek Bridge over Hangman Valley. Other well-represented architectural styles downtown include Art Deco (Spokane City Hall, Paulsen Center , Fox Theater , John R. Rogers High School , City Ramp Garage), Renaissance Revival (Steam Plant Square, Thomas S. Foley Courthouse , Legion Building , San Marco ), Neoclassical (Masonic Center, Hutton Building , Bing Crosby Theater ), Chicago School ( U.S. Bank Building , Liberty Building, Old City Hall ) and Modernist ( The Parkade , Ridpath Hotel , Bank of America Financial Center). The tallest building in
11072-499: The Arts remain from Expo '74 as legacy pieces. The park is also home to historic features such as the Great Northern clock tower and Looff Carrousel ; other sites of interest near the park include the River Park Square mall, Mobius Science Center , and The Podium sportplex. The park sees over three million visitors annually and has a Spokane Visitor Information Center at 620 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard with maps and information on local attractions, history, and tours. Riverfront Park
11245-416: The Blue Zoo an interactive aquarium in the NorthTown Mall . The area supports an abundance of wildlife in part because of its varied geology and natural history. The area contains a wide range of vegetation, from densely wooded coniferous forests to rolling grassy hills and meadows. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are common in the drier and lower elevation areas throughout the region. The ponderosa pine
11418-407: The Browne's Addition neighborhood and residences contain the largest variety of residential architecture in the city. These residences are lavish and personalized, featuring many architectural styles that were popular and trendy in the Pacific Northwest from the late 19th century to 1930, such as the Victorian and Queen Anne styles. In high demand following his firms' design of the Idaho Building at
11591-504: The Cascades, the Spokane area has 16.5 inches (420 mm) average annual precipitation, less than half of Seattle's 39.3 inches (1,000 mm). Precipitation peaks in December, and summer is the driest time of the year. The Rockies shield Spokane from some of the winter season's coldest air masses traveling southward across Canada. In the summer season, Spokane, like much of the western United States , has been experiencing drier conditions and more frequent and larger wildfire events since
11764-479: The City of Spokane. As the brothers were planning in the Spokane River Gorge, they skipped the area that Riverfront Park now sits on, sarcastically noting that it had already been partially "improved" and hoped that the City of Spokane would one day acquire the area surrounding the Spokane Falls for a public park. By 1914, the Union Pacific had built their own station on the park's site, along with elevated tracks leading up to it. The heart of downtown Spokane became
11937-426: The Davenport District of Downtown, to the more contemporary neighborhoods of north Spokane. Spokane's neighborhoods are gaining attention for their history, as illustrated by the city being home to 18 recognized National Register Historical Districts . Some of Spokane's best-known neighborhoods are Riverside , Browne's Addition , and Hillyard . The Riverside neighborhood consists primarily of downtown Spokane and
12110-404: The Davenport Hotel cost two million dollars to complete and included new technologies at the time of its opening in September 1914, such as chilled water, elevators, and air cooling. In contemporary times, one of the city's foremost and influential architects has been Warren C. Heylman, who helped give the city a great breadth of mid-century architecture. Heylman's career was most prolific during
12283-410: The Expo '74 site was to be deeded by the City of Spokane to the U.S. Government for the Pavilion. Prior to the transformation of the larger 100-acre Expo site, a Travelodge motel, built in 1959, sat on the land that the U.S. Pavilion now occupies. To prepare for the design and construction of the Pavilion, the Department of Commerce issued a request for proposal in December 1971 from firms across
12456-696: The Fox Theater (now home to the Spokane Symphony) as well as the completion of the WSU Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building in 2013 and the Davenport Grand Hotel in 2015, Ridpath Hotel in 2018 and the ongoing renovation of Riverfront Park (as of May 2019). The Kendall Yards development on the west side of downtown Spokane is one of the largest construction projects in the city's history. Directly across
12629-593: The Monroe Street Bridge. Moving northward across the South Channel is Havermale Island which encompasses a number of grassy meadows, natural conservation areas, amphitheaters, the U.S. Pavilion, and the Great Northern clock tower. The northern area of Riverfront Park, just across the Spokane Falls from Havermale Island, is generally referred to as the North Bank and contains the park's northern gateway. Up until Riverfront Park's 2021 redevelopment, much of
12802-494: The National Register of Historic Places. Many of the former town's houses were built to house railroad workers, mainly immigrant laborers working in the local yard, who gave Hillyard an independent, blue-collar character. Hillyard has become a home for much of Spokane's growing Russian , Ukrainian , and Southeast Asian communities. Spokane neighborhoods contain a patchwork of architectural styles that give them
12975-537: The North Bank area was underdeveloped as a park and primarily used for parking and park maintenance facilities. The North bank redevelopment created features which included an ice age floods themed playground, Hoopfest basketball courts, the Skate and Wheels Park, and a climbing boulder as well as the Howard Street Promenade which showcases ample views of the Spokane falls and other water features of
13148-577: The North Bank areas of downtown. The promenade runs from the Rotary Fountain on the park's southern boundary, across snxw meneɂ , and ends at the park's northern entrance across the street from the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena . Prior to the completion of the promenade, it was still possible to pass through the park in a north—south manner, but the route was much more meandering and circuitous and did not offer
13321-468: The Pavilion functions as open public space , providing views to the Spokane River. The City of Spokane was extended federal recognition of the environmentally-themed Expo '74 by then-US President Richard Nixon on October 15, 1971. Soon after, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a proposal for federal participation in the event. It recommended that the president would find the national interest of
13494-422: The Pavilion, is a steel and cable structure located in the center of Riverfront Park on Havermale Island. The Pavilion, which served as the pavilion for the United States during the event and is one of the legacy pieces of Expo '74 , is used as an event center with indoor and outdoor event space, and an amphitheater for concerts and live performances with raised catwalks and viewing platforms. When not in use,
13667-486: The South Hill. Yet the rebuilding and development of the city was far from smooth: between 1889 and 1896 alone, all six bridges over the Spokane River were destroyed by floods before their completion. In the 1890s the city was subject to intrastate migration by African-Americans from Roslyn , looking for work after the closure of the area's mines. Two African-American churches, Calvary Baptist and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal, were founded in 1890. Just three years after
13840-511: The Spokane River from downtown, it will blend residential and retail space with plazas and walking trails. Spokane is located on the Spokane River in eastern Washington at an elevation of 1,843 feet (562 m) above sea level, about 18 miles (29 km) from Idaho , 92 miles (148 km) south of the Canadian border , 229 miles (369 km) due east of Seattle, and 279 miles (449 km) southwest of Calgary . The lowest elevation in
14013-562: The Spokane River. Overlooking and adjacent to the north bank playground is The Podium , a multi-use sportsplex with a seating capacity of 3,000 constructed in 2021. Riverfront Park's location in downtown Spokane creates a highly urban context for the park. The park's southern boundary of Spokane Falls Boulevard along the downtown core creates a distinct urban streetwall , or park-city edge, similar to edges that exist in other urban parks such as Grant and Millennium Parks in Chicago ,
14186-422: The Spokane area. The same year it was officially incorporated as a city under the name of Spokane Falls (it was re-incorporated under its current name ten years later). In the late 19th century, gold and silver were discovered in the Inland Northwest. The local economy depended on mining, timber, and agriculture until the 1980s. Spokane hosted the first environmentally themed World's fair at Expo '74 . Many of
14359-429: The United States served by its participation. It stated that the theme of the fair was of great national importance and interest, and that participation would help provide a platform to showcase the country's accomplishments in the environmental field on a world stage. Besides having a platform to increase awareness to the world about the dangers of environmental damage and initiatives taken to counter it, participation in
14532-472: The Upper Spokane Falls , surrounding snxw meneɂ . All three channels converge back into a single run just downstream of the Upper Falls. The park's Upper Spokane Falls is the second largest urban waterfall in the United States. Riverfront Park can be described through several unofficial, general areas: the South Channel area, Havermale Island, and the North Bank area. The South Channel area of
14705-411: The World's Fair site preparation thought something had to be retained to appease the "railroad buffs." The location roofline of the former depot can be seen on the face of the tower where the sandstone masonry blocks change color. The tower stands at 155 feet (47 m) and 6 inches (150 mm) tall, and features a 9 ft (2.7 m) diameter clock face on all four of its sides. The clock itself
14878-502: The area along the Spokane Falls had become industrialized with sawmills and flour mills, utilizing the fast-moving Spokane River and Spokane Falls for its hydropower . Flumes and waterwheels were used to mechanically drive sawmills and flour mills located along the river. To satisfy the growing demand for electricity and modernize the city, the Washington Water Power company constructed a timber dam (replaced in 1974) on
15051-493: The area, the Spokane tribe (their name meaning "children of the sun" in Salishan ), lived off plentiful game. David Thompson explored the area with the westward expansion and establishment of the North West Company 's Spokane House in 1810. This trading post was the first long-term European settlement in Washington. Completion of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1881 brought many settlers from America to
15224-525: The area. The city was officially incorporated with a population of about 1,000 residents on November 29, 1881. When Spokane was officially incorporated in 1881, Robert W. Forrest was elected as the first mayor of the city, with a Council of seven, S.G. Havermale, A.M. Cannon, Dr. L.H. Whitehouse, L.W. Rima, F.R. Moore, George A. Davis, and W.C. Gray, all serving without pay. The marketing campaigns of transportation companies with affordable fertile land to sell along their trade routes lured many settlers into
15397-499: The arrival of additional railroads. By 1910 the population had hit 104,000, and Spokane eclipsed Walla Walla as the commercial center of the Inland Empire. In time the city came to be known as the "capital" of the Inland Empire and the heart of a vast tributary region. After the arrival of the Northern Pacific, Union Pacific , Great Northern, and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroads, Spokane became one of
15570-512: The carousel out of storage and showcase it to the world during the event, but it was deemed impractical due to the restoration and moving costs. It would not be until 1975, after the conclusion of Expo '74, that the ride would be installed on the expo's legacy site that is now Riverfront Park. The building that housed the German Hofbrau during the world's fair became the new home for the carousel, and it operated in there until 2016 when
15743-405: The center of the city, boosting the number of events in the park, creating sustainable revenue, increasing viewing opportunities to the Spokane River, and also protecting natural resources and habitat around the park. The new master plan was completed by early summer 2014, and put toward the Spokane City Council for adoption that summer with the goal of putting it on the general election ballot for
15916-780: The center of the park. From the east, the Spokane River Centennial Trail , a 37-mile (60 km) National Recreation Trail that is a continuation of the North Idaho Centennial Trail in Idaho, meanders through from the adjacent University District and WSU Health Sciences Spokane campus , entering Riverfront Park from underneath the Division Street Bridge as it travels to its western terminus in Sontag Park near
16089-940: The city , at 288 feet (88 m), is the Bank of America Financial Center. Also of note is the Spokane County Courthouse in West Central (the building on the seal of Spokane County), the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rockwood, the Benewah Milk Bottles in Riverside and Garland, Mount Saint Michael in Hillyard, and the Cambern Dutch Shop Windmill in South Perry. As an early affluent Spokane neighborhood,
16262-618: The city of Spokane is the northernmost point of the Spokane River within city limits (in Riverside State Park ) at 1,608 feet (490 m); the highest elevation is on the northeast side, near the community of Hillyard (though closer to Beacon Hill and the North Hill Reservoir) at 2,591 feet (790 m). Spokane is part of the Inland Northwest region, consisting of eastern Washington, north Idaho , northwestern Montana , and northeastern Oregon . The city has
16435-575: The city was 80.7% White, 2.9% some other race, 2.5% Black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.8% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 0.5% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, with 10.5% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.1% of the population. Of the 101,130 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.8% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% were couples cohabitating, 24.8% had
16608-480: The city. During this time of stagnation, unrest was prevalent among the area's unemployed, who became victimized by "job sharks", who charged a fee for signing up workers in the logging camps. Job sharks and employment agencies were known to cheat itinerant workers, sometimes paying bribes to periodically fire entire work crews, thus generating repetitive fees for themselves. Crime spiked in the 1890s and 1900s, with eruptions of violent activity involving unions such as
16781-559: The claims of 160 acres (65 ha) along with the sawmill from the original settlers. By the late 19th century, much of the area along the Spokane Falls had become industrialized with sawmills, flour mills, and hydroelectricity generators. Several residences also began to occupy Havermale Island in the heart of what is now Riverfront Park, but, they were forced to relocate when the Great Northern Railway began to build tracks into downtown Spokane in 1892. In 1902, with
16954-510: The coldest month is over 26.6 °F (−3 °C), though in the US this threshold is often defined to be 32 °F (0 °C). The area typically has a warm, arid climate during the summer months, bracketed by short spring and fall seasons. On average, the warmest month is July and the coolest month is December; July averages 71.0 °F (21.7 °C), while December averages 29.1 °F (−1.6 °C). Daily temperature ranges are large during
17127-483: The completion of the Great Northern Railway Depot on Havermale Island, trains began running to the city's center and began an era in which railroads would dominate the landscape in downtown Spokane. As Spokane continued to grow in the early 20th century, railroading became a major part of Spokane's development and heritage, which led the city to become one of the most important rail centers in
17300-470: The conclusion of Expo, but the Falls route was retained. The original ride had open-air gondolas, which served until the ride's reconstruction in 2005, which rebuilt the attraction and upgraded it with fully enclosed gondolas as part of a $ 2.5 million project. Refurbishment to the original ride was considered, but ultimately the decision was made to replace the entire system and its parts. The naming rights to
17473-531: The country for preliminary design concepts. Twenty firms initially responded to the proposal, of which half were chosen to advance in the competition. Three finalists were eventually named, with Los Angeles-based Herb Rosenthal & Associates being awarded the contract to develop the plan, including schematic concepts and cost estimates. The firm partnered with the Portland, Oregon office of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill as well as Spokane-based Trogdon-Smith,
17646-560: The crossing of many paths. The Great Northern Railway clock tower is located on Havermale Island and was originally constructed in 1902. It was part of the Great Northern Railway Depot that existed on the Riverfront Park site prior to Expo '74. When the rail tracks were removed and site transformed in preparations for Expo, the depot was demolished in 1973, but the clock tower was left standing after
17819-421: The design of the new structures and grounds within the framework of the master plan and with input from stakeholders. One of the principal architects of the firm, Tom Kundig , was raised in Spokane and is the son of architect Moritz Kundig, who had a leading role in the design of the same grounds to prepare for Expo '74; the new additions to the park pay homage to the fairs' environmental theme. Construction on
17992-784: The downtown area's older Romanesque Revival -style buildings were designed by architect Kirtland Kelsey Cutter after the Great Fire of 1889 . The city is also home to the Riverfront and Manito parks, the Smithsonian-affiliated Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture , the Davenport Hotel , and the Fox and Bing Crosby theaters. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane , and
18165-540: The earlier conceptual designs, but still retained a lot of the original elements including soft canopy covering a courtyard, theater, holding area, and permanent building. The Pavilion was formed to look like a giant tent (and was originally covered) as a way to support the fair's environmental theme and was the largest structure at the fair. The design of the pavilion was described by the U. S. Department of Commerce as "an expression of environmental concern...[with the] structure's smooth, graceful contour harmonized fully with
18338-422: The east. A majority of the park's elevation ranges from 1,880 feet (570 m) to 1,890 feet (580 m) above sea level , placing it more or less level with the surrounding downtown Spokane, but the elevation varies as one moves onto the park's two islands and closer to the Spokane River. The Spokane River and its waterfalls, the park's namesake and main natural attraction, flows from east to west through
18511-438: The entire extent of the wagon, allowing users to walk right up to the edge of the wagon where its "walls" double as guardrails. At the front end, the wagon's handle doubles as a playground slide , providing another way for users to exit and interact with the sculpture. In May 2022, The Red Wagon received significant repairs for the first time in the 33 years since its construction, and a fresh coat of paint. The Numerica SkyRide
18684-558: The environmentally-themed Expo '74 . Demolition began in 1972, and the fair was held from May to November 1974, welcoming nearly 5.6 million attendees. After the world's fair concluded, the site was converted into Riverfront Park by landscape architecture firm Robert Perron and Associates. Perron sought to accentuate the site's natural features such as the upper and lower falls by utilizing observation points that were previously occupied by industrial buildings and warehouses, train tracks, and parking lots. Flowing footpaths connect
18857-414: The exposition would also yield economic benefits to the United States, including bringing foreign travelers and giving American manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their anti-pollution equipment that could create new overseas trade opportunities for the United States. It was proposed that the best way for the United States to participate in the exposition would be through an exhibit to be housed within
19030-400: The fair from May 4 to November 3, 1974, called for the preservation of the site as a legacy of Expo '74 and converting it into an urban park after the fair's conclusion. After several years of work to convert the site, Riverfront Park was officially opened in 1978. Several of its most recognizable buildings such as the U.S. Pavilion, Spokane Convention Center , and First Interstate Center for
19203-418: The fairgrounds became the 100-acre (40 ha) Riverfront Park. The growth witnessed in the late 1970s and early 1980s was interrupted by another U.S. recession in 1981, in which silver, timber, and farm prices dropped. The period of decline for the city lasted into the 1990s and was also marked by a loss of many steady family-wage jobs in the manufacturing sector. At this time, market forces began to impact
19376-559: The falls. Riverfront Park features a number of open grassy meadows on the south side of Havermale Island facing the calmer south channel of the Spokane River, including the Lilac Bowl, which is a natural amphitheater, and the Clock Tower Meadow, adjacent to the Great Northern clock tower. Native flora are also featured in the park to create a markedly more natural environment. The Riverfront Park Conservation Area at
19549-508: The fire, in 1892, James J. Hill 's Great Northern Railway arrived in the chosen site for Hill's rail yards , the newly created township of Hillyard (annexed by Spokane in 1924). Spokane became an important rail shipping and transportation hub for the Inland Empire, connecting mines in the Silver Valley with agricultural areas around the Palouse region. The city's population ballooned to 19,922 in 1890, and to 36,848 in 1900 with
19722-465: The group's beautification aspirations, and that it needed to go bigger; it suggested that Spokane host an international exposition that could bring in state and federal dollars, as well as tourists from outside Spokane, to fund a riverfront transformation. This idea caught on and inquiries were made to the Bureau of International Expositions and an additional study was commissioned in the fall of 1970, and
19895-437: The historic West Central neighborhood. To the east of downtown is East Central and the adjacent University District and budding "International District". To the west of downtown is one of Spokane's oldest and densest neighborhoods, Browne's Addition. A National Historic District west of Downtown, Browne's Addition was Spokane's first prestigious address, notable for its array of old mansions built by Spokane's early elite in
20068-421: The idea of beautifying the riverfront and turning Havermale Island into a park. With support around beautification growing, Spokane Unlimited would go on to commission a feasibility study in 1970 for using a marquee event, proposed to be in 1973 to celebrate the centennial of Spokane, to fund the beautification. However, the report stated that a local event would not have the stature to bring in enough funding for
20241-477: The initial settling of the city of Spokane on the Spokane Falls along the Spokane River , which was chosen because of the falls ' hydropower potential to support a late 19th century city and its economy, and the eventual reaction to the immense amount of industrial and railroad development that engulfed and obscured the area around the falls as Spokane expanded over the ensuing decades. The site of
20414-438: The integrity of Spokane's street grid pattern is largely intact (especially the areas north of downtown and south of Francis Ave.), and the houses have backyard alleys for carports, deliveries, and refuse collection. Contemporary suburbs and architecture are prevalent at the north and south edges of Spokane as well as in the new Kendall Yards neighborhood north of downtown. In 1907, Spokane's board of park commissioners retained
20587-417: The landmarks' forms. The logo evokes the triangular-shaped form of the pavilion along with its arc-shaped bottom structural component and leaning posture. The thin, rectangular shape and triangular top of the clock tower, along with its round clock faces are also abstracted into the design. Other geometric aspects of the logo are inspired by the cable-work of the Pavilion's structure, Spokane's street grid, and
20760-473: The late 1850s in part due to the hilltops. The Palouse was and still is a breadbasket and was able to develop and grow with the completion of several railroad networks as well as a highway system that began to center around the city of Spokane, aiding farmers from around the region in distributing their products to market. Inland Empire farmers exported wheat, livestock and other agricultural products to ports such as New York, Liverpool and Tokyo. Local morale
20933-510: The late 20th century; the fine particulate matter in the smoke can be carried by the wind and blanket the region in a haze and impact Spokane's air quality . See or edit raw graph data . As of the 2022 American Community Survey estimates, there were 230,176 people and 101,130 households. The population density was 3,347.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,292.5/km ). There were 105,002 housing units at an average density of 1,527.1 per square mile (589.6/km ). The racial makeup of
21106-490: The lighting design for the Pavilion won awards for Outdoor Lighting Design and Control Innovation from the Illuminating Engineering Society . Riverfront Park is home to one of the many hand-carved carousels built by prominent late 19th and early 20th century carousel builder, Charles I. D. Looff , who is notable for building the first carousel at Coney Island and one of the piers that make up
21279-449: The local Kaiser Aluminum plant and layoffs, pension cuts, a 1998-1999 labor strike, and eventually bankruptcy in 2002 followed. Although this was a tough period, Spokane's economy had started to benefit from some measure of economic diversification; growing companies such as Key Tronic and other research, marketing, and assembly plants for technology companies helped lessen Spokane's dependence on natural resources. As of 2014, Spokane
21452-654: The logging industry. Although overshadowed in importance by the vast timbered areas on the coastal regions west of the Cascades, and burdened with monopolistic rail freight rates and stiff competition, Spokane became a noted leader in the manufacture of doors, window sashes , blinds, and other planing mill products. Rail freight rates were much higher in Spokane than the rates in coastal seaport cities such as Seattle and Portland, so much so that Minneapolis merchants could ship goods first to Seattle and then back to Spokane for less than shipping directly to Spokane, even though
21625-527: The long-term survival of vulnerable species such as mountain caribou and the American goshawk . Spokane has a warm-summer humid continental climate ( Dsb under the Köppen classification), a rare climate due to its elevation and significant winter precipitation; Spokane, however, is adjacent to and sometimes even classified as a warm-summer Mediterranean climate ( Csb ) because the average temperature for
21798-459: The most architecturally intact neighborhood in Spokane, 85 percent of these buildings are historic. As the city expanded mainly to the north in the middle of the 20th century, the bungalows in the "minimal traditional" style commonplace from the 1930s to the 1950s tend to predominate in the Northwest, North Hill, and Bemiss neighborhoods. This architectural style occupies the neighborhoods where
21971-428: The most important rail centers in the western U.S. Expansion abruptly stopped in the 1910s and was followed by a period of population decline, due in large part to Spokane's slowing economy. Control of regional mines and resources became increasingly dominated by national corporations rather than local people and organizations, diverting capital outside of Spokane and decreasing growth and investment opportunities in
22144-533: The most notable of which is the Spokane River Centennial Trail , which features over 37.5 miles (60.4 km) of paved trails running along the Spokane River from Spokane to the Idaho border. This trail continues on towards Coeur d'Alene for 24 miles (39 km) as the North Idaho Centennial Trail and is often used for alternative transportation and recreational use. In the summer, it has long been popular to visit North Idaho's "Lake Country", such as Lake Coeur d'Alene , Lake Pend Oreille , Priest Lake , or one of
22317-528: The next couple of years, and by 1963, Spokane Unlimited had to revise its vision. They hired King Cole, who had recently worked on some urban renewal projects in California, to execute Ebasco's urban renewal plans in Spokane. In light of the failed votes, Cole formed a grassroots citizen group, called the Associations for a Better Community (ABC), to build community support through the 1960s around
22490-620: The northwest, where it is joined by the Little Spokane River on its way to the Columbia River, north of Davenport . The Channeled Scablands and many of the area's numerous large lakes, such as Lake Coeur d'Alene and Lake Pend Oreille , were formed by the Missoula Floods after the ice-dammed Glacial Lake Missoula ruptured at the end of the last ice age. The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge south of Cheney
22663-457: The other nearby bodies of water and beaches. In the winter, the public has access to five ski resorts within a couple hours of the city. The closest of these is the Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park , which has trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding. Zoological parks in Spokane include Cat Tales Zoological Park , a wildlife sanctuary primarily for big cats and
22836-477: The park and the surrounding falls were originally inhabited by Native Americans , who had a number of fishing camps near the base of the falls. Regional tribes would convene at this bountiful fishery during the annual Chinook salmon run to fish, trade, and engage in cultural activities . Along the falls, the salmon would be caught using various fish trap methods and the catch would be dried and smoked on site to preserve and store them for sustenance during
23009-427: The park are still frequently available through trails that parallel the river and intersect with roadways and connect with the parking lots of these private developments along the way. A number of paths and roadways also traverse the park, providing further connectivity to surrounding areas beyond. In the north—south direction, the Howard Street Promenade provides a direct link between the core of downtown Spokane and
23182-555: The park is located along the southern branch of the Spokane River after its initial split, along Spokane Falls Boulevard, and contains several of the park's features including the Looff Carrousel, Numerica Skate Ribbon, and Rotary Fountain. The area also serves as the South Gateway to Riverfront Park. Unofficial extensions of this area of the park came as a result of the linking of Riverfront Park to Huntington Park via
23355-489: The park's redevelopment are set to mature in 2035. Key projects of the bond measure included a renovation of the U.S. Pavilion, construction of a new skate ribbon to replace the former Ice Palace that was hosted each winter at the Pavilion, construction of a new building to house the historic Looff Carousel, and the construction of new public spaces such as the Howard Street Promenade and a regional playground. The advisory committee hired Olson Kundig Architects to conceptualize
23528-433: The park's western boundary was renovated and enhanced, re-opening for traffic in June 2024. The Spokane River and Spokane Falls are the main natural attraction of Riverfront Park and are visible from many areas of the park. Along the river's calm south channel, many of the walking paths and lawns go right up to the river's edge, allowing park-goers to get close to the water. People have been known to stick their feet in
23701-421: The park, and even access from the buildings themselves, is integrated into the architectural design of those facilities through large breezeways , terraces and door openings. Along the northern boundary of the park, the natural topography of the Spokane River's banks, combined with private development that lines much of that side of the river, makes access slightly more limited. Despite this, access points to
23874-608: The park, beginning as a single run, and eventually splitting up across three channels, creating the two main islands featured in the park. The first split into a northern and southern channel creates Havermale Island, the larger of the two islands. Further downstream, at around the midpoint of Havermale Island, the northern channel splits again into the north and mid channels, creating snxw meneɂ (pronounced sin-HOO-men-huh, which means "Salmon People" Island in Salish), formerly known as Canada Island. These northern two channels contain
24047-505: The phased, five-year long project began in 2016 with a ground breaking ceremony on July 8 at the site of the future Numerica Skate Ribbon and the final major phase of construction associated with the park, the north bank playground was completed and opened to the public in May 2021. Another city project adjacent to the park, The Podium sportsplex, along the park's northern boundary was also completed in 2021. The Post Street Bridge that form's
24220-578: The post's significance. In 1836, Reverend Samuel Parker visited the area and reported that around 800 Native Americans were living in Spokane Falls. A medical mission was established by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman to cater for Cayuse Indians and hikers of the Oregon Trail at Walla Walla in the south. After the Whitmans were killed by Indians in 1847, Reverend Cushing Eells established Whitman College in their memory, also setting up
24393-475: The preferred option, and after successful negotiation to relocate the railroad facilities on Havermale Island, they executed on a proposal to host the first environmentally themed World's Fair in Expo '74 on May 4, becoming the smallest city at the time to host a World's Fair. This event transformed Spokane's downtown, removing a century of railroad infrastructure and re-inventing the urban core. After Expo '74,
24566-550: The project is not yet solidified. A number of animal species have been spotted in the park, including marmots , osprey , beaver , and mule deer . Some of the more common animals seen at the park are ducks , Canada geese , squirrels and marmots. Marmots are common in and around the river, the park, the Centennial Trail, and other areas around the city, which is unusual outside the region as they typically live in more remote, mountainous locations. Riverfront Park
24739-460: The project, the IMAX theater was removed along with a number of other structures that had been added to the pavilion since its original construction. The renovated pavilion reopened on September 6, 2019, and features an open floorspace for events and sloped and terraced landscaping to provide seating areas for audiences. One "indoor space" from the pavilion before redevelopment remains incorporated into
24912-461: The rail line ran through Spokane on the way to the coast. The Inland Northwest region has also long been associated with farming, especially wheat production. Initially, the Palouse was thought to be unsuitable for wheat production due to the hilly terrain, believing wheat could not be cultivated on the tops of the hills, but the region showed great promise for wheat production when it began in
25085-421: The redesign to be used as a ticketed entry point when needed, and also features rental space and park offices. Additionally a 40 ft (12 m) high platform was constructed in its center to provide views of the Spokane River. There was debate about recovering the pavilion's structure like it was during Expo '74, but concerns about budget and schedule made it unfeasible. Instead, several dozen panels mounted on
25258-517: The region they dubbed "Spokane Country". The 1883 discovery of gold, silver, and lead in the Coeur d'Alene region of northern Idaho lured prospectors. The Inland Empire erupted with numerous mining rushes from 1883 to 1892. Mining and smelting emerged as a major stimulus to Spokane. At the onset of the initial 1883 gold rush in the nearby Coeur d'Alene mining district , Spokane became popular with prospectors, offering low prices on everything "from
25431-857: The region's professional and semi-professional sports teams include the Spokane Indians in Minor League Baseball . The Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League . The Spokane Velocity in USL League One with a women's first division team Spokane Zephyr FC in USL Super League . The Gonzaga Bulldogs collegiate basketball team competes at the Division ;I level. As of 2010, Spokane's major daily newspaper, The Spokesman-Review , had
25604-426: The results both came back very positive. The 1974 world expo was identified as the target event. Efforts to host the expo just three-and-a-half years later began immediately and was a tall order considering that Spokane would become the smallest city at the time to ever host a World's fair, and that the proposed site had 16 owners, including the railroads. Funding came from local, state, and federal sources, including
25777-409: The ride temporarily closed for Riverfront Park's redevelopment. During the redevelopment, the carousel was stored and refurbished while the former German Hofbrau building that housed it was demolished and replaced. A new building was constructed in its place on the same site and opened on May 12, 2018. The Red Wagon, officially named The Childhood Express , is a play sculpture that is modeled after
25950-526: The river at the Lower Falls in 1890 and another dam on the Upper Falls in 1922. These operating hydroelectric facilities on the falls from the park's industrial past are among the sights of interest in Riverfront Park. Located on the site of a former railyard , the park site's potential as a showcase for the Spokane Falls was recognized as early as 1908, but it would be another 64 years before those visions could be realized. Downtown Spokane, including what
26123-453: The same site, is 100 acres (40 ha) in downtown Spokane and the site of some of Spokane's largest events. The park has views of the Spokane Falls and holds a number of civic attractions, including a skyride, a rebuilt gondola lift that carries visitors across the falls from high above the river gorge. The park also includes the historic hand-carved Riverfront Park Looff carousel created in 1909 by Charles I. D. Looff . Riverfront Park
26296-742: The services of the Olmsted Brothers to draw up a plan for Spokane's parks. Much of Spokane's park land was acquired by the city prior to World War I, establishing it early on as a leader among Western cities in the development of a citywide park system. Spokane has a system of over 87 parks totaling 4,100 acres (17 km ) and includes six neighborhood aquatic centers. Some of the most notable parks in Spokane's system are Riverfront Park , Manito Park and Botanical Gardens , Riverside State Park , Saint Michael's Mission State Park , John A. Finch Arboretum , High Bridge Park and Liberty Park . Riverfront Park, created after Expo '74 and occupying
26469-663: The site of the reclaimed land that was occupied by a YMCA building, is approximately 1-acre (0.40 ha) and runs right alongside the falls and highlights a stream that ran underneath the former building site. In collaboration of the Spokane Humane Society, on June 18, 2022, the Spokane Parks Foundation announced the Spokane Humane Society Paw Park which will be developed across from the Lilac Bowl. The timeline of
26642-425: The sparse winter months. Among the gathering tribes, a "Salmon Chief" is chosen to coordinate fishing efforts, hold prayer, lead singing ceremonies, and bless and distribute the catch equitably to the tribes. American settlers first occupied the site in 1871 when a claim was established at Spokane Falls. In 1873, James N. Glover , who would go on to become influential in the initial birth and growth of Spokane and
26815-402: The start of World War II as aluminum production commenced in Spokane due to the area's cheap electricity (produced from regional dams) and the increased demand for airplanes. After decades of stagnation and slow growth, Spokane businessmen formed Spokane Unlimited in the early 1960s, an organization that sought to revitalize downtown Spokane. A recreation park showcasing the Spokane Falls was
26988-467: The structure contains roughly 4.6 miles (7.4 km) of cabling. As part of its original design, the Pavilion featured a vinyl covering that was installed in 1973. The covering, which cost $ 1 million and weighed 12 tons, was not meant to last, and was removed in early 1979. The Pavilion has had its iconic skeleton-look with exposed cabling ever since. The Pavilion underwent a full renovation in 2018 as part of Riverfront Park's redevelopment. As part of
27161-544: The summer, often exceeding 30 °F (17 °C), and small during the winter, with a range just above 10 °F (5.6 °C). The record high and low are 112 °F (44 °C) and −30 °F (−34 °C), but temperatures of more than 100 °F (38 °C) or less than −5 °F (−21 °C) are rare. Temperatures of 90 °F (32 °C)+ occur an average of 21 days annually, temperatures of 100 °F (38 °C)+ occur an average of only 1 day annually, and those at or below 0 °F (−18 °C) average 2.2 days
27334-658: The surrounding shoreline terrain." In 1972, the United States Congress provided $ 11.5 million ($ 83.8 million in 2023 dollars) to build the pavilion and outfit it with exhibits. To help ensure a successful construction project and on-time delivery, the construction of the project was managed and administered by the General Services Administration (GSA) rather than the Commerce Department. The Commerce Department
27507-416: The urban areas and destinations that surround all sides. The park's southern and western boundaries consist entirely of roadways, which are lined with sidewalks that open directly onto adjacent plazas and lawns within Riverfront Park. Further east, the First Interstate Center for the Arts , and Spokane Convention Center physically occupy a large amount of the park's frontage, but, access between downtown and
27680-408: The various sites and follow the terraformed landscape, revealing elements and viewpoints around the edges of the park, at the center of which is a natural amphitheater . The more developed southern edge of the park adjacent to the downtown central business district features the more artificial and manicured elements of the park, such as green spaces, fountains, and pools while the northern edge retains
27853-412: The water and fish in the south channel from time to time. Access and visibility to the river's north channel, which is home to the falls, is generally more limited due to the faster and rougher water and river gorge that is created by the falls. However, many official viewing points exist, most notably two pedestrian suspension bridges at the west end of snxw meneɂ that provide up-close viewing of
28026-746: The west side of the cable structure create shade for portions of the renovated pavilion's floor and seating areas. The redesign also added plexiglass "blades" illuminated by LEDs to the cables that make up the Pavilion. The redesign team wanted to highlight the Pavilion at night in a way that would incorporate and enhance the unique look of the net-like canopy. There are 476 blades that measure 3 ft (0.91 m), 4 ft (1.2 m), and 6 ft (1.8 m) in length but are controllable in 6 in (150 mm) segments. The U.S. Pavilion displays animated light shows from Dusk-10pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and specialized light shows or static looks created for holidays and special events. In August 2020,
28199-482: The western United States. Spokane eventually became the site of four transcontinental railroads, including the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, as well as regional ones like the Oregon Railway . The presence of railroads within the downtown core was noted by the Olmsted Brothers in 1908 when they began to develop a master plan for parks in
28372-564: Was Kirtland Kelsey Cutter . Self-taught, he came to Spokane in 1886, and began by designing "Chalet Hohenstein" for himself and other residences for his family, while also working as a bank teller. Other structures designed by Cutter include the Spokane Club, Washington Water Power Substation, Monroe Street Bridge (featured in the city seal), the Steam Plant , and the Davenport Hotel . Built in renaissance and Spanish Revival style,
28545-403: Was affected for years by the collapse of the Division Street Bridge early in the morning on December 15, 1915, which killed five people and injured over 20, but a new bridge was built (eventually replaced in 1994). The 1920 census showed a net increase of just 35 individuals, which actually indicates that thousands left the city when considering the natural growth rate of a population. Growth in
28718-474: Was awarded on April 25, 1973, for earthwork, foundation components, and underground utilities, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held just six days later on May 1, 1973 in a ceremony attended by a number of distinguished guests including local, federal, and Expo '74 officials, and foreign dignitaries representing nations such as the Soviet Union . The Pavilion's tower stands 150 feet (46 m) tall, and
28891-488: Was commissioned by the Junior League with donations from its Spokane chapter and other local business for Washington State's Centennial celebration (the state achieved statehood in 1889) and was dedicated to Spokane's children on August 18, 1990. Users can enter and exit the wagon through a staircase located at the underside of its rear end, taking them up to a wooden platform "within" the wagon. The platform covers
29064-691: Was constructed in 2005 by the Doppelmayr Garaventa Group . The original version of the SkyRide was built in the 1960s by the Riblet Tramway Company and purchased by the City of Spokane secondhand for Expo '74. The ride had two routes at Expo, one over the exposition's fairgrounds, and the other descending down the Spokane River Gorge to view the Spokane Falls. The fairgrounds route was removed after
29237-648: Was in operation from 1810 to 1826. Operations were run by the British North West Company and later the Hudson's Bay Company , and the post was the headquarters of the fur trade between the Rocky and Cascade mountains for 16 years. After the latter business absorbed the North West Company in 1821, the major operations at the Spokane House were eventually shifted north to Fort Colville , reducing
29410-416: Was rebuilt, and the city was reincorporated under the present name of "Spokane" in 1891. According to historian David H. Stratton, "From the late 1890s to about 1912, a great flurry of construction created a modern urban profile of office buildings, banks, department stores, hotels and other commercial institutions" which stretched from the Spokane River to the site of the Northern Pacific railroad tracks below
29583-412: Was short-staffed and experiencing a heavy workload at the time, and its base in Washington, D.C. was considered too remote to Spokane to run the construction successfully. It subsequently entered an agreement with the GSA, which leveraged its Pacific Northwest connections at the GSA regional office in Auburn, Washington . The GSA's agreement with the Department of Commerce called for the project to utilize
29756-414: Was transforming the site and removing the railroads. Through intense negotiations, the Expo '74 planners, including King Cole were able to convince the railroads to agree to a land swap and donate the land needed for the Expo site. The railroads were consolidated onto the Northern Pacific Railway lines further to the south in downtown Spokane, freeing up the site for construction to transform it to host
29929-419: Was written about it. Amusements were added. The site is now a trailer park. KSPS aired the documentary Remember When: Nat Park in 1996. Spokane, Washington Spokane ( / s p oʊ ˈ k æ n / spoh- KAN ) is the most populous city in and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington , United States. It is in eastern Washington , along the Spokane River , adjacent to
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