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Spokane's "Mayor for a Day" (Who Never Was)
The little-known (and utterly fictional) tale of Spokane's "mayor for a day," Josiah Forsyth.
Spokane's Amusement Park: Natatorium Park
In 1968, Natatorium closed. For some it would be the close of an era, for others, it was a long time coming. Though Natatorium was never owned by the Spokane Parks Department, it was a park many…
Spokane's Chinatown
In the late 1800s, the fast-growing city of Spokane attracted immigrants from all over the world, including China and Japan. As in other American cities, a combination of anti-Asian prejudice and…
Spokane's Deadliest Disaster, Greenwood Cemetery
There are 15 unmarked graves at Greenwood Memorial Terrace that belong to railroad workers who were blown to smithereens on 06 September 1890.
A crew, of at least 24 men, was working that day to…
Spokane's Debate for Fair Housing: The 1968 Debates between Carl Maxey and James S. Black
In 1968, two powerful men squared off in a series of debates that would help to shape Spokane
Spokane's First Legal Hanging, Greenwood Cemetery: Spokane's First Legal Hanging, Greenwood Cemetery
Where lays Charles Brooks? Who was he? Why is he in an unmarked grave? Mr. Brooks has the unfortunate fame of being the first legally hanged man in Spokane.
The 1891 Brooks case was quite the…
Spokane's Gold Star Mothers: Some Spokane mothers gave their all to the war effort, and not every son returned
Wilmer Evers died in a Prisoner Of War camp in the Philippines during World War Two. His mother was given a gold star pin to honor the sacrifice her son made for his country.
Spokane's Haircut Fight: Black Spokane's Fight For Civil Rights
In October 1963, in downtown Spokane an exchange student at Gonzaga University from Liberia went into a barbershop to ask for a haircut. In a few minutes, Jangba Johnson experienced what it meant to…
Spokane's Other Indians, A Baseball Story: Avoiding Stereotypes, Building Bridges
Spokane's own professional baseball team has undergone a lot of changes since 1903!
Spokane's Public Market Place
After the Panic of 1893, Americans sought new ways to save on unnecessary spending. As families continued to grow, so did grocery bills. Spokane realized the success of Seattle's public marketplace…
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…
Spokane's Trolley Cars
The steel rails that still peek through the pavement here and there in Spokane remind us of the days of trolley cars. At one time, the tracks that lay before you carried Spokanites to work, shops,…
Spokane's Whites-Only Sperm Bank: [Tasteless Masturbation Pun Here]
In the 1990s Spokane gained national attention for a whites-only sperm bank. Things did not go as planned, and the spank bank soon tanked.
Spokane’s New Era In Transportation: In the early 1900's, this city had one of the largest concentrations of automobiles West of the Mississippi
Horse-drawn carriages became less desirable, streetcars and railroads were well established around the county and in the city, and a new contraption called the automobile became the dominant mode of…
Spokane’s Red Tail: Spit Fire, Jack D. Holsclaw
Born and raised in Spokane, Jack D. Holsclaw spent World War II flying as a Tuskegee airman.
Spokanes Automobile Hub: When Cars Were Needed, Doran Was Your Location
Sitting on 707 W. 2nd Avenue the Doran Building was constructed in 1920 by Spokane architect Arthur Cowley. The building served as a car dealership during the peak of Spokane's automobile purchases…
Spokanites and the Civil Rights Movement, 1964-1965: Solidarity between North and South
On June 21st, 1964, one black and two white student activists were killed in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Only three weeks later, three lawyers from Spokane, Washington, two white and one black departed…
St. Aloysius Church/Bing Crosby
In 1916, Bing became an an altar boy for St. Aloysius Church. Every third week, he attended and served mass at 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.
One of Bing's friends asked him if he would like…
St. Boniface Church in Uniontown
You are looking at St. Boniface Church, named after the German apostle. It is the first consecrated Catholic Church in the State of Washington. The church not only represents the spiritual…
St. Ignatius Hospital: A Haunted Hospital in the Palouse?
Religious orders were vital in establishing hospitals in the West. St. Ignatius Hospital is one the first hospitals built in the Inland Northwest by the Sisters of Charity.
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…
St. Joseph's Church & Cemetery
Among the earliest signs of white settlement in the Spokane Valley was the construction of churches and cemeteries, and St Joseph's Church & Cemetery is the earliest in the Spokane Valley. The…
St. Michael's Mission Marker: This obscure monument tells a story of Catholic history in Spokane.
All but forgotten in a residential neighborhood, a granite marker stands in one of Spokane's most historic spots.
Stadacona Circle
Today a part of Grant Park, Stadacona Circle was one of the earliest parks in Spokane. Once located on Eleventh Avenue between Ivory and Arthur Streets, this small 1.3 acre park was donated to the…
Starbuck Cemetery
Cemeteries are more than a place of rest; they are physical records of the history of their communities. Nestled on a green hillside above the Tucannon River, the Starbuck Cemetery tells the story of…
Steptoe Butte: Waypoints in the Palouse Tour
A winding fifteen minute drive up to the top of Steptoe Butte offers some of the most breathtaking views in Eastern Washington. On a clear day, visitors are greeted by a panoramic view of nearly the…
Stewart Hall: Honoring Whitworth's Most Important Early President
Home to thirty-five men and thirty-five women on two floors, Stewart Hall was built in 1963. Initially, Stewart served as an all men’s dormitory. It was dedicated in honor of Calvin W. Stewart who…
Streeter Hall
Built in 1968, Streeter Hall was the first co-ed residence hall on campus. This was done to provide a new atmosphere of campus living. Though the hall was co-ed, men and women lived in different…
Studebaker Shop
Transportation is the key to survival for small towns. Harrington is no different, depending first on horses, then trains, then automobiles to bring in visitors and residents. The many businesses…
Sunset Bridge
Originally named the Hangman Creek Bridge, this span was constructed in 1911. The creek below was known as Hangman Creek since 1854, when Colonel George Wright hanged a group of American Indians, who…