Spokane, the second-largest city in Washington state, is often overlooked by its more famous neighbor, Seattle. I’ll be the first one to tell you that Seattle is a magical place, to be sure—but Spokane has plenty of its own magic!
Now, I hear what you’re saying, if Spokane is so great, then what is Spokane famous for? What is Spokane known for?
Spokane is famous for the Riverfront Park, being the smallest city to host the World’s Fair, and as the hometown of Bing Crosby. Spokane is known for Spokane Falls, Hoopfest, Bloomsday, and the Lilac City.
Spokane is no Seattle—but it doesn’t need to be! This sunny town is a delight, with its many local wineries, tons of historic buildings, stunning outdoor recreation, and world-class festivals and parks.
Read on for the 17 things Spokane is known and famous for, and I bet I’ll convince you to give it a visit!
Table of Contents
1. “Creative by Nature”
One of Spokane’s slogans is “Creative by Nature,” which embodies the artsy spirit and natural world that surrounds the city.
It also encourages tourists to create-their-own-adventure when it comes to their Spokane visit—and to take full advantage of the outdoors while you’re there!
2. Riverfront Park
The Spokane River cuts through the middle of Spokane (the city) and along its banks, you’ll find the jewel of Spokane—Riverfront Park. Voted one of America’s most beautiful urban parks (by Nat Geo, no less!) Riverfront Park is an old railway that was reimagined in the 1970s.
The park covers 100 acres and holds many must-see landmarks, such as Spokane Falls, and the Looff Carrousel, as well as playgrounds, trails, ice skating rinks, sculptures, and a gondola.
3. Spokane Falls
One of the largest urban waterfalls in the United States, Spokane Falls is at the heart of Riverfront Park. Partially an electrical dam nowadays, you can get incredible views of the Falls by riding the SkyRide Gondola or visiting A Place of Truths Plaza.
Spokane Falls has been a gathering place for hundreds of years and was a sacred spot for the native tribes of the area, such as the Spokane Tribe (from whom Spokane got its name). Christened “Stluputqu,” or “swift water,” the tribes would gather annually at the base of the falls.
4. Children of the Sun
Spokane gets its name from the local Spokane tribe, which is part of the Interior Salish Group.
This group has inhabited the Spokane Valley, eastern Washington, and parts of Idaho and Montana for hundreds of years. For many generations, the Spokanes lived near the Spokane River, on territory that once sprawled over three million acres.
Spokane means “children of the sun,” as the traditional Spokane land (and now Spokane the city) is in the sunniest part of the state.
5. Second-largest wine producer in the U.S.
With the aforementioned sun, the arid climate, and the large glacier-fed rivers, eastern Washington (aka the Spokane area) is ideal for agricultural purposes. And one of these is grapes, for wine!
In fact, eastern Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the United States (after California). Washington’s wine country gets bigger every year! If you’re a wine-o, don’t sleep in Spokane.
For some of the best wine in Spokane, go to wine tastings at Latah Creek Wine Cellar, Barrister Winery, Overbluff Cellars, Winescape Winery, or Maryhill Winery (or try them all!).
6. Bing Crosby
One of Spokane’s claims to fame? Bing Crosby!
Yep, Spokane is famous for being the hometown of renowned singer and actor Bing Crosby. Although he was born in Tacoma, his family moved to Spokane in 1906, when he was three.
Bing Crosby’s childhood home is still standing, and the historic Spokane theater was renamed the Bing Crosby Theater in his honor in 2006.
7. World’s Fair
Spokane is the smallest city to ever host a world fair. In 1974, the International Exposition on the Environment (often called Expo ‘74) took place in Spokane at what is now Riverside Park.
The expo ran from May 1974 to November 1974 and was a source of great urban renewal. Artifacts and buildings left from the Expo ‘74 can still be seen in Riverside Park.
8. Surrounded by lakes
Spokane is surrounded by many lakes: a total of 76 lakes are within an hour drive from Spokane (and that doesn’t include all of the river access sites or creeks). You’ll be living your best #lakelife in no time!
Try out Riverside State Park on Spokane Lake (also called Long Lake) for swimming, paddle boating, and fishing. Spokane Lake is also home to The Cove, a famous spot for cliff jumping.
Some other nearby lakes are Lake Coeur d’Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, Hayden Lake, and Liberty Lake, just to name a few.
9. Father’s Day
Spokane is the father of Father’s Day (see what I did there?).
The first Father’s Day took place in Spokane on June 19, 1910. It was started by Spokane resident Sonora Smart Dodd, in honor of her father, who raised her and her siblings after her mother died.
Dodd continued to advocate for Father’s Day to be a national holiday, which finally happened in 1972.
10. Historical downtown
Historic downtown Spokane has more than half of its buildings on the historic register. Most of the buildings were built after 1890, as the Great Fire of 1889 decimated most of the standing downtown buildings.
The oldest building in the downtown area is the 1879 Strong House. Other notable buildings are the 1890 Review Building, which still houses Spokane’s major newspaper, the Art-Deco Davenport Hotel, the Flour Mill, and the 1916 Steam Plant.
11. The Looff Carrousel
One of Spokane’s most famous attractions is the Looff Carrousel.
The Looff Carrousel, which is also at Riverfront Park, was built in 1909 and is one of the most beautiful (and well-preserved) hand-carved carousels left in the United States.
The Looff Carrousel features over 50 traditional horses as well as a giraffe, a tiger, and two Chinese dragons, plus a brass ring catch (of course!).
12. Hoopfest & Bloomsday
Spokane is known for two of the world’s largest sporting events: Hoopfest and Bloomsday.
Spokane is often called Hooptown USA as it hosts the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Hoopfest takes place every June and has for the past 30 years. Around 24,000 players come to the Hoopfest every year, from nearly all 50 states and 6 countries.
Spokane is also known for the world’s largest footrace, Bloomsday, which takes place the first Sunday in May, annually. Over 50,000 runners/walkers join in on Bloomsday each year.
13. “Near nature, near perfect”
Another of Spokane’s famous slogans is “near nature, near perfect.”
Spokane’s affordability, happiness index, and access to nature make it pretty close to perfect (at least if you ask anyone that lives there).
14. Lilac City
Spokane is also famously called the Lilac City and hosts an annual Lilac Festival. Every May, when the lilacs are at their peak bloom, the city of Spokane brims with events that celebrate both lilacs and the armed forces (weird combo, maybe, but it works).
With parades and teas, art shows and galas, car shows, and brew fests, this 85-year-strong tradition brings a little something for everyone. And the flowers, seriously, are amazing!
15. Garbage Goat
Riverside Park in Spokane has a lot of very cool things (if you haven’t figured that out by now). One of these is…a Garbage Goat!
I know, what’s a garbage goat?? It’s a sculpture, originally made for the Expo ‘74, that is a goat that eats…garbage.
The goat is essentially a mechanized trash can. Pretty cool, right? It was made in the 1970s by local artist Sister Paula Turnbull, more famously known as the “Welding Nun.”
16. The Childhood Express
Speaking of interesting sculptures in Spokane’s Riverside Park, you won’t be able to miss this one!
Called “The Childhood Express,” this is a giant sculpture of the classic toy, a Radio Flyer Red Wagon. This is actually the biggest red wagon in the world!
Commissioned in the late 1980s as part of the “Centennial Celebration for Children,” it’s for the child in all of us: anyone, adult or child, can climb into the bed of the wagon and slide down the big white handle.
17. Washington’s Hollywood
With its historic buildings, sunny climate, and lots of open space (plus a relatively small population), Spokane is somewhat of a hotspot for movies. Over 50 movies have been filmed in Spokane over the years!
Some of the most famous ones are Benny & Joon, Mozart & the Whale, Tag, Smoke Signals, the Hit List, and Red Dawn—so if you happen to watch these, keep an eye out for local Spokane landmarks.
Conclusion
I have to agree that Spokane’s slogan of “near nature, near perfect” is pretty spot on. Riverside Park might be one of the coolest parks in the country!
But, hey, don’t listen to me—go there yourself, and make your own decision. And drink a whole lot of wine for me, okay?
Have you been to Spokane? What was your favorite part about Spokane, if so? If you haven’t, which of these things sounds most interesting to you?
Lived there for 37 years. I think nature was high on my list there. The pines, lakes, etc. Also the city has a tendency to get rid of old ugly buildings- I’m not sure how or why whether there’s an ordinance or what. Where I’m living in southern Texas now if it’s an overused building it just sits there forever.
Note: Expo 74 was held in Riverfront Park not Riverside.
I spent the years from ‘53 to ‘65 as a citizen of Spokane. What I remember most was the great summer music and education programs for kids. Summer band and summer school at the old Lewis and Clark High School were great! Swimming lessons at the local pools helped me get over my fear of the water.
Great to see Spokane doing so well following the launch of my 40-year broadcasting career. Graduating from EWU in 67’ KXLY’s Ron Bair hired me in the news room. Year’s following took me to tornado alley KWTV in OKC, and KMBCTV Kansas City. Retired at Lake Ozark MO.