Spokane, Washington

Post Street Bridge, Upper Spokane Falls, Spokane
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Upper_Spokane_Falls_20070217.jpg
Author: Mark Wagner


Spokane is a city in Spokane County on the eastern part of Washington state, just 20 miles (32 km) from the border with Idaho. The city of 210,000 people (2011 estimate) is the second largest city in Washington after Seattle. It is located on the Spokane River in the Inland Northwest region.

The Spokane area was inhabited by Native Americans who were hunter-gatherers until the arrival of white fur trappers in the early 19th century. A fur trading post was established here in 1810. The economy of the area got a boost in the late 19th century, when gold and silver were discovered.

The Campbell House, Spokane
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Campbell_House1.jpg
Author: Murderbike


The city of Spokan Falls was incorporated on 29 November, 1881 when the Northern Pacific Railway reached it. The name underwent some changes, to Spokane Falls in 1883, and finally to Spokane in 1891. The railway was instrumental in fueling the growth of Spokane, with immigrants and settlers coming as far away as Germany and Finland.

Spokane is credited to be the birthplace of Father's Day celebration. Although a day set aside to honor fathers may have started in West Virginia, it was in Spokane, through the initiative of one Sonora Smart Dodd, who was inspired by Mother's Day celebrations, to propose a similar day for fathers.

Cathedral of St John, Spokane
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cathedral_of_St._John_in_Spokane.jpg
Author: Robert Ashworth


Spokane was the venue of World's Fair in Expo '74. It was the first environmentally-theme World's Fair, and Spokane also held the distinction of being the smallest city to host such a major event. The fairgrounds are today the 100-acre (0.4 sq km) Riverfront Park.

Today Spokane is a modern city with a revitalized downtown area. It has a number of historic buildings as well as modern shopping malls and a convention center.

Spokane Riverfront Park
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spokane_Riverfront_Park_20061014.jpg
Author: Mark Wagner

Visiting Spokane, Washington

Spokane International Airport (GEG) gets flight connections with major cities in the United States. Despite it being an international airport, it doesn't get any international flights (at time of writing, March, 2011), as most flights from Canada uses the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).

You can also reach Spokane by train. Amtrak has a service on the Empire Builder route between Seattle/Portland and Chicago, passing through Spokane.

To get to Spokane by road, take Interstate 90, the only major highway passing through the city.

Places of Interest in Spokane, Washington

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