Bridges of Spokane

Spokane,s history begins with the arrival of explorer David Thompson, who established the trading post Spokane House in 1810. From that period forward, the area teemed with Euro-American settlers who often mingled with the Native American population. Spokan Falls, officially incorporated in 1881, and by 1891 known simply as Spokane, became ground zero for the extractive industries of mining and logging and later a vast hub for the railroads. These factors led to the greatest boom in the city,s history between the years 1900 and 1915. Spokane,s growth came on the heels of an increase in the built environment that included the creation of parks, subdivisions, an expanded downtown business district, and an almost feverish movement to create some of Washington,s most beautifully designed bridges. Because of this, Spokane has often been referred to as the ,City of Bridges.,

The images contained in Images of America: Bridges of Spokane have been provided by the Washington State Archives, Eastern Region. These photographs are part of the Spokane Public Works, Historic Preservation, and Spokane City Planning collections. In addition, numerous photographic images appear courtesy of the Spokane Public Library's Northwest Room. Author Jeff Creighton served as the assistant regional archivist for the Washington State Archives, Eastern Region.