This page features a collection of historical articles about Eastern Washington, covering regional history, local communities, historic sites, and cultural heritage. Topics include Spokane-area history, early settlement, architecture, public spaces, and notable places across Eastern Washington. These articles provide research and context on the people, events, and locations that shaped the region.
Featured Article
Natatorium Park, opened in 1890 along the Spokane River, blended baseball, swimming, thrill rides, and entertainment into a Pacific Northwest landmark for nearly eight decades.
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Remembering the Standard Stock Exchange and the Spokane Stock Exchange
History of the Exchange The Spokane Stock Exchange was established in 1896 and convened its first trading session in a storeroom next to the Trader’s…
Read MoreSpokane’s Masonic Temple – An Architectural Icon
I have always been intrigued by the Masonic Temple on Riverside Avenue with its distinctive curve. It features 18 columns of the Corinthian Order. There…
Read MoreSpokane’s Federal Building and U.S. Post Office – A Historic Gem
When in downtown Spokane, an impressive and not to be missed historical gem is the Federal Building and U. S. Post Office located at 904…
Read MoreThe Poor Clare Nuns – Over 100 Years in Spokane and Still Going Strong
It has been such a pleasure and an honor to live near the Poor Clare Nuns here in Spokane since 1962. They are a cloistered…
Read MoreThe “Little Known” Story of Oliver Perry Meeker Brother of the Famous Ezra Meeker
A brutal Eddyville, Iowa, winter, the opportunity for a better life, and the lure of free land enticed Ezra Meeker (1830-1928) and his wife, Eliza…
Read MoreRemembering the Broadview Dairy
It isn’t often in the Northwest that we find a merger of history involving agriculture, commerce, the successes and failures of economics, and a surviving…
Read MoreCarnegie Libraries of Eastern and Central Washington: Elevation and Enlightenment through Learning
An in-depth history of Carnegie libraries in Eastern and Central Washington, highlighting architecture, civic support, and an educational legacy of free access to books.
Read MoreThe History of Airway Heights
Airway Heights, WA history reflects Indigenous roots, Fairchild Air Force Base influence, and post-WWII growth that led to incorporation and long-term community development.
Read MoreSpangle, Washington: Initially an 1800s Farming Town along the Famous Mullan Road
Spangle, WA, founded in the 1800s, a historic Mullan Road stop, homesteading hub, railroad town, gateway to the Palouse, with a pioneer past and frontier heritage.
Read MoreAn Historic Look at Geiger Field and the Spokane International Airport
The history of the Spokane International Airport, from Indigenous lands and Geiger Field to WWII service, iconic mid-century architecture, and modern expansion.
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