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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Spokane Shined as Host of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships 2007 and 2010 and the 2002 Skate America Competition
Spokane had what it took to successfully host three major ice skating competitions in a relative short amount of time. Those successes have cemented its…
Read MoreAn Overview of Selected Sky Slides from the Past
From the early wooden slides of the 1900s to the more modern fiberglass ones of the late 1960s and 1970s, Sky Slides carved out a…
Read MoreRoller Skating History of the Cook’s and Pattison’s Rinks in Spokane
The focus of this article is on the evolution of one roller skating rink in Spokane first run by Silas Cook and then by the…
Read MoreThe Shadle Park Water Tank – A Distinctive Historical Landmark
If ever there was a symbol for Shadle Park and the surrounding northside of Spokane, it is the green and gold massive steel water tank….
Read MoreFrom Ypsilanti to Spokane by Way of Chengdu
Harold Morgan
Proud Spokane WWII U.S. Army Air Forces Veteran
This article is a tribute to Charles H. (Harold) Morgan, who was my neighbor. He proudly served in the United States Army Air Forces in…
Read MoreSpokane’s White Elephant Stores — Just for Fun for 74 Years
Fond Recollections Spokane was privileged to have two White Elephant stores which sold items that brought joy to so many people in the community. Driving…
Read MoreRemembering 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…
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