National Trust for Historic Preservation

Oct. 31 - Nov. 3, 2012

Spokane is so pleased to be hosting the 2012 National Preservation Conference!

We have so many exciting things for you to see and do during your stay!

We've posted some special discounts on tours and restaurants! Check out the links for things to do in Spokane to see those offers. 

Be sure to visit the 1909 Looff Carrousel in Riverfront Park. Take a spin on one of the beautifully hand-carved figures. The carrousel will be open 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 4. Be sure to check out the Spokane Falls Skyride and other attractions in Riverfront Park.

If you're looking for something darker during Halloween season, sign up for the "Dark Side of Spokane" tour. It'll put you in the spirit of the season!

Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, a Save America's Treasures recipient, is open for tours Wednesday through Friday of the conference week. Tours are from 1 - 2 p.m. Be sure to explore this classic Art Deco treasure!

Drop by the Chase Gallery, on the lowest level of Spokane's City Hall, to view an art exhibit called "The History of Spokane - Art About Spokane's Places." Gallery hours are Mondays 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Now that we have your attention, we'll share a bit about Spokane. Washington's most preserved city boasts a beautiful convention district in the heart of downtown. The Spokane Convention Center sits on the edge of Riverfront Park and the Spokane River. It's within easy walking distance to fantastic shops, restaurants, wineries and attractions. Preservation advocates will find many architectural gems in the Spokane Region.

Our jewels include:

 Historic Hotels, including your convention headquarters, The Davenport Hotel. This beauty has been world famous since it opened in September of 1914. It was the first hotel with air conditioning, a central vacuum system, housekeeping, accordion ballroom doors and Crab Louis (named for Louis Davenport). At its opening, The Davenport Hotel had the largest private telephone branch exchange in the entire Pacific. Gilded with gold, sparkled by crystal and illuminated throughout with "electroliers," it was as grand as the finest ocean liners of the day. It was truly one of America's exceptional hotels.

• Steam Plant Square: An innovative office and retail complex in the heart of Spokane, this historic landmark houses a unique restaurant and brew pub, trendy shops and business offices. Its twin steam stacks beckon visitors.

• Historic Browne's Addition: This beautiful neighborhood sits just five minutes from downtown and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It's home to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum that holds the largest collection of Northern Plateau Indian artifacts.

• Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist: Generally believed to be one of the finest Gothic-style cathedrals in the western United States, this is one of two gorgeous cathedrals gracing Spokane.

• The Masonic Center: President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of this downtown labyrinth in 1903. See its four-story fly lofts, turn-of-the-century stage drops and richly ornamented assembly halls.

• Monroe Street Bridge: When completed in 1911, this bridge's 281-foot concrete central span was the largest in the U.S. Thanks to heavy lobbying from preservation advocates, the bridge underwent a major renovation in 2005 instead of being replaced.

• Gonzaga University: This university campus near downtown Spokane features Bing Crosby's boyhood home as well as St. Aloyisius and the relocated and restored Heutter House. Perhaps we should also mention that it's home to the Gonzaga Bulldogs or "Zags", a powerhouse basketball program.

• Also: many historic bed and breakfasts, hills filled with Craftsman-style neighborhoods, downtown loft dwellings, fascinating cemeteries and wineries in historic buildings.

If you need to hear from a reliable source about the value of visiting Washington, here's a message from a historic character: Bing Crosby: