[Azndragon837]

I recently visited a childhood best friend of mine, who lives with his wife in Spokane, Washington on Fairchild Air Force Base. My vacation was recent, I stayed for about 4 days between December 17th thru the 21st. I didn't expect much from this Northwest Inland city, but when I arrived, I was amazed!

Spokane was smart enough to save a nice stock of its historic buildings, making their downtown one hell of an interesting and beautiful place. I live in Phoenix, and our downtown lacks historic buildings (actually, it lacks a lot of things right now), all torn down by urban renewal during the past century, which is sad. When I saw how much life and historic buildings there are in Spokane, I went camera happy. Although it was below freezing on the streets, I was in architecture and city planning heaven while walking around downtown. Here are my photos, enjoy!!!

Looking north towards the Spokane River
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010821.jpg

The Downtown Spokane skyline
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010822.jpg

City Hall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010825.jpg

River Park Square, a downtown mall
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010827.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010829.jpg

Me at the Spokane River & Falls
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010830.jpg

Historic clock tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010840.jpg

Me again with the river & clock tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010841.jpg

Outside of the city, near the air force base, are a bunch of little coffee drive-thru stands
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010848.jpg

The awesome Spokane River just outside the city. This place is all nature, and I love everything about it!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010856.jpg

Typical neighborhood
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010862.jpg

Downtown buildings
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010864.jpg

The Fox Theater, it's being restored
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010867.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010868.jpg

Typical neighborhood
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010889.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010894.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010897.jpg

This charming building is the home of The Spokesman, which is the city's main newspaper
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010901.jpg

More downtown buildings
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010903.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010904.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010905.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010908.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010909.jpg

The Bank of America Tower, which is the tallest in the city (288 feet)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010911.jpg

This is the US Bank building, I believe. This is one beautiful building, I pretty much fell in love with it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010913.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010921.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010915.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010918.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010916.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010923.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010924.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010925.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010926.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010928.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010930.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010932.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010933.jpg

The follwing 3 pictures are of the Davenport Hotel, which just finished a restoriation a few years ago. This is my favorite of them all. A beautiful 1920s-built hotel.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010936.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010937.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010938.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010939.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010940.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010942.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010943.jpg

This is the River Park Square Mall. It incorporates several buildings into the multi-story complex so that it does not look huge. I like it, and the fact that the center fits well with the other shops and restaurants around it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010944.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010945.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010946.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010947.jpg

City Hall once again, with a connecting sky bridge to River Park Square
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010948.jpg

I am amazed by the detail and architecture of the historic Spokane County Courthouse. I love this buiding
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010949.jpg

This is where I stayed: Fairchild Air Force Base, outside of the city
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010875.jpg

It snowed on the last day I was there
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010965.jpg

I don't get to enjoy snow often (I live in Phoenix), so this was a rare chance to enjoy it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010968.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010986.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010987.jpg

Stunning artwork at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (on a layover)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4011006.jpg

I like how these window panes are held on by the thick cables
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4011010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4011012.jpg

Next stop: Seattle. This was my frist time visiting the city (only as a layover from Spokane to Phoenix) and I intend to come back!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4011021.jpg

===========================================

Thanks for checking out my photos, hope you all like. I hear that this city is a great place to visit during the summer months, when more people are out and about, with all the leaves and plants alive and blooming. I hope to visit this city again, its well worth it! Thanks everyone!
:tup:

-Andrew

[JiminyCricket II]

very nice photos. Did you happen to go into the Davenport hotel? The inside is even nicer than the outside, and it's all authentic:

http://www.thedavenporthotel.com/images/gallery/hallofdoges.jpg


thanks for sharing your pics.

[Ex-Ithacan]

Nice set of pics Andrew. I use to spend some time in Spokane many years ago. Glad to see the downtown is still quite alive and active. Also glad the old gems are still in place. I think you would enjoy a summer visit, and don't forget to take a day trip to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - a beautiful place as well.
Thanks for sharing your trip.

[Chicago3rd]

Thanks! It is so great to see someone do justice in taking photos of Spokane....lots to show off there.

[mhays]

Good pics.

Though it's in my state, I haven't spent any time in Spokane, just sort of passed through. Probably ought to visit.

Can't wait for the Seattle thread.

[InfillJunkie]

Wow gorgeous photos!!

[Azndragon837]

Thanks everyone! Spokane was an awesome city...I did not thought much of it when I arrived, but after some getting-used-to, the city grew into me. It's a hidden Northwest gem, and yes, I intend to come back in the summer. Also, I regret not visiting CDA, Idaho, but since my best friend lives in Spokane, I have a very good reason to go back, which I will soon.

I didin't go inside the Davenport Hotel because I was short on time, and it wasn't until after I came home and looked it up, I noticed what an astonishing interior the hotel has! I'll definately check it out next time as well.

Spokane goes to show that a city doesn't need tall buildings or superblock development to have a good downtown. I like how the city is setup now, with its lovely historic buildings, especially the use of pretty much all the historic buildings in stock. I like how the River Park Square Mall isn't a superblock building. Instead, it's a mall within several small buildings, which makes it more humane.

Thanks for the comments, and hopefully I can visit Seattle for Spring Break. This was my first trip to the Northwest.

-Andrew (Phoenix, AZ)

[Paintballer1708]

Spokane is a very underrated city. Thanks for the pics, we dont see much of Spokane on here.

[phillyskyline]

Thanx for the tour!

[mSeattle]

Wow, very nice. I'm going to get that Spokane too. I love all those great architecture buildings in Spokane and you're right, it's a good downtown. Put some more housing there and it'll be nudging toward being "great downtown". It's got the universities (Gonzaga/WSU/UW) does it have grade school?

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Nice pics.

I drove along Spokane on the highway towards Yellowstone, back in 1992. To me it didn't look this exciting. But how can one tell from a view from a highway... :rolleyes:

[bgwah]

Cool pictures

[Last Chance]

It's got the universities (Gonzaga/WSU/UW) does it have grade school?


I think that kids still get sent to grade school in Spokane. The town sure could use a Grad school though... :D

[Azndragon837]

Nice pics.

I drove along Spokane on the highway towards Yellowstone, back in 1992. To me it didn't look this exciting. But how can one tell from a view from a highway... :rolleyes:


Yeah, driving by cities on freeways can sometimes hide a city's true heart. Here are two horrible pics I took with my camera (which isn't the best, but oh well). It doesn't show all of Spokane in its glory, so ya gotta get onto the streets to find it.

Going west on I-90:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010873.jpg

Going east towards the city on I-90. This is actually a killer view, and going downhill into the valley, it makes the skyline look huge. Too bad I didn't have a better zoom camera:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010882.jpg

Does anyone have a shot of Spokane from that perspective (pictured above)? Thanks!!!

-Andrew

[Seattle FTW]

visit CDA in the summer when you have a chance

its way more happening during that time

[InlandEmpire]

Great photos! I was there this last weekend for Christmas (Coeur d' Alene actually, but spent time in Spokane). It is a really amazing downtown and often overlooked. Definitely do another trip later in the year. Spokane's summer weather is perfect.

[wushu18t]

nice pics. want to have dinner sometime?:cheers:

[mSeattle]

I think that kids still get sent to grade school in Spokane. The town sure could use a Grad school though... :D

Hey, I was talking about downtown or very close, related to the "build more residential downtown" idea for young urban families with elementary school-age kids. The high school and college students are taken care of.

WSU/UW are working on a joint Health Science thing for Spokane I think on the grad-school level.

[Hub for an Empire]

One of my Christmas presents is a future night in a Deluxe room at the Davenport Hotel! (I'm excited) Yes, Andrew you need to make another trip back and visit the lobby of the hotel at least. The inside of the new Davenport Tower hotel should be neat also, even though the outside is a bit on the simple side!
Glad you took time away from Airway Heights/FAFB to discover Spokane. If you drive to Seattle next time, take some time to stop at Leavenworth (Bavarian style town) along Highway 2 on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains.

[blm3034L!fe]

Very Impressive...

[urbanlife]

much better without the Rookery blocking views downtown....good to see that building gone (sarcasm). Actually great job, looks alot like my first impressions on the city when I came to visit here. It is very unique from most of the cities in the country.

Good to see someone took some pictures of the city before I do because with all this crappy snow, it might limit the amount of pictures I actually take.

[oliveurban]

Nice pics, Andrew.

Spokane continues to look like a place I'd really like to visit someday.

[Urbanguy]

Very nice, that city does have a lot of stunning architecture. :)

[Azndragon837]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Expect many more to come of other cities once I graduate from ASU this May....and I need a new camera.

-Andrew

[boden]

Good post...thanks for the work!:tup:

[PuyoPiyo]

Nice pix!

[excel]

Great place.

[bc2mb]

picturesque

[InlandEmpire]

It was interesting to see that the Bon Marche' logo is still on the downtown Macy's building... Can't wait to see the skyline once the Vox tower is underway, among the other projects in the works.

[dawickham]

Yeah, driving by cities on freeways can sometimes hide a city's true heart. Here are two horrible pics I took with my camera (which isn't the best, but oh well). It doesn't show all of Spokane in its glory, so ya gotta get onto the streets to find it.

Going west on I-90:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010873.jpg

Going east towards the city on I-90. This is actually a killer view, and going downhill into the valley, it makes the skyline look huge. Too bad I didn't have a better zoom camera:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/Azndragon837/Spokane%20Vacation%20121706/SkyscraperPage/S4010882.jpg

Does anyone have a shot of Spokane from that perspective (pictured above)? Thanks!!!

-Andrew


Here you go. I am looking for pics of Walla Walla, or any cities of Montana.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/dawickham/a00027.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa13/dawickham/a00029.jpg