Why Spokane
Spokane is the second-most populous city in Washington state and serves as the economic and cultural center of the Inland Northwest region. Situated along the Spokane River in eastern Washington, the city lies adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills. It sits approximately 20 miles west of the Idaho state line and 110 miles south of the Canadian border, with Interstate 90 connecting it to Seattle 280 miles to the west. Known as the birthplace of Father's Day, Spokane carries the local moniker "Lilac City" and the official title "Hooptown USA" in recognition of Spokane Hoopfest, the world's largest basketball tournament.
The region was originally home to the Spokane tribe, a name translating to "children of the sun." European settlement began in 1810 when fur trappers working under explorer David Thompson established Spokane House, creating Washington's first lasting European outpost. The completion of the Northern Pacific Railway in 1881 spurred rapid population growth and led to the city's official incorporation. Following regional discoveries of gold and silver, Spokane grew into a major trade, rail, and supply hub anchored by mining, logging, and agriculture. After the Great Spokane Fire of 1889 devastated 32 blocks of the commercial core, the city was rapidly rebuilt and re-incorporated under its current name in 1891, later hosting the environmentally themed Expo '74.
Much of downtown Spokane's historic architecture features Romanesque Revival structures designed by architect Kirtland Cutter during the post-fire reconstruction era. Prominent architectural and cultural landmarks include the Davenport Hotel, the Bing Crosby Theater, the Fox Theater, and the Smithsonian-affiliated Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. Green spaces such as Riverfront Park and Manito Park offer public recreation near the city center, while notable spiritual sites include the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and the Spokane Washington Temple.
Spokane hosts several institutions of higher learning, including Gonzaga University, founded by Jesuits in 1887, and Whitworth University, established in 1890. The local sports scene features the Gonzaga Bulldogs Division I collegiate basketball team alongside professional and semi-professional clubs such as the Spokane Indians in Minor League Baseball, the Spokane Chiefs in hockey, and the Spokane Velocity and Spokane Zephyr FC soccer teams. Air travel to the city and the surrounding Inland Northwest is centered at Spokane International Airport, located five miles west of the downtown district.
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