Wander the West

The Davenport Hotel - Spokane

	The Davenport Hotel

2006

The Historic Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane, Washington, is a magnificent building well worth a visit if you are passing through the area. I was looking to stay in a historic downtown hotel on my way through Spokane, and The Davenport fit the bill. Upon arrival, my expecations were vastly exceeded. Words fail to describe the stunning detail that have gone into the construction (and later renovation) of this remarkable building. My room was comfortable and well appointed, with granite tiled shower and granite bathroom countertops. I only stayed long enough to get a good nights sleep and move on the next morning, but I was left with the impression that this hotel warranted a several day stay to really explore everything the hotel has to offer.

The hotel has an interesting history. From The Davenport Hotel's website:

The Davenport Hotel has been world famous since it opened in September of 1914. It was the first hotel with air conditioning, a central vacuum system, housekeeping carts (designed by Louis Davenport himself), accordion ballroom doors and Crab Louis (named for Louis Davenport). The Spokane newspaper introduced the hotel to the public with a special Sunday insert trumpeting "the new two million dollar hostelry of Spokane," even though the project was 50% over budget and actually cost $3 million. At its opening, The Davenport Hotel was the largest private telephone branch exchange in the entire Pacific Northwest (with 450 handsets) and was similarly the largest and most complicated plumbing job (with 30-miles of pipes delivering hot, cold and drinking water to every one of its 405 rooms). 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.

Sadly, the hotel deteriorated over the years and finally closed in 1985. For years there was talk of demolishing the building but luckily that never happened. In 2000, the Hotel was purchased by a local company who spent a staggering 38 million dollars renovating the Hotel. The Davenport reopened in 2002.

I encourage readers to go to the Davenport's website and take a look at their photo gallery - CLICK HERE.

- Aaron Walton