Saturday Travel Feature
Spokane Railroad Tower

"This tower is all that remains of the great Northern Depot that stood on the site from 1902 to 1972. The building was removed while clearing the downtown site for Expo '74. The tower symbolizes the role the railroads had in the development of the city and is a focal point of the Riverfront Park." (Quote from the book Spokane's Historic Architecture published by Eastern Washington State Historical Society.)  One wishes that the whole of the Northern Railroad Depot could still be seen. The tower is 155 feet in height and does play its carillon bells each day and noon.


The Great Northern Depot with its Clock Tower was built at a cost of $150, 000. It was thought to be the finest railroad depot west of Chicago. "It was made with pressed brick and trimmed with native sandstone. The four clock faces are 9 feet across on each side, making it the largest Clock Tower in the West. The 8 ft. pendulum and weight which powers it weigh 500 lbs. The clock has to be wound once a week by a hand crank. A Riverfront Park employee climbs up every week to keep it running on time. The original depot  served the train the "Empire Builder"." (Thanks to the Discovery School in Spokane for this information.) The Empire Builder still runs today between Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, Washington. Some train buffs consider it the most beautiful ride in North America.


Riverfront Park runs through the downtown Spokane area along side the Spokane River. The river is crossed in this area by three bridges.  Across the river from the Northern Depot Tower is the 1909 Carrousel with its hand carved and restored horses as well as a tiger and a giraffe. You can ride it most days of the year. You can also ride the aerial tram with a spectacular view of the Spokane River's waterfall. And of course, there is the worlds largest red Radio Flyer wagon with a slide even adults slide down.


Photo: Taken  2009 by SW.


Links: http://www.historicspokane.org/NationalRegister/clock_tower.htm