# Timeline of Spokane, Washington

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Spokane, Washington, USA.

## 19th Century

* 1874 - Spokane Falls settlement established in Washington Territory by James N. Glover.
* 1879 - Spokane Times newspaper begins publication.
* 1880 - Population: 350.
* 1881 - November 29: Spokane Falls incorporated as a town and then as a City.
* 1882 - Spokane becomes seat of Spokane County.
* 1883
** Northern Pacific Railway begins operating.
** Central School opens.
* 1884 - YMCA established.
* 1887
** Sacred Heart Hospital opens.
** Jesuit Gonzaga College established.
* 1889
** August 4–6: The Great Fire.
** Union Pacific Railroad begins operating.
** Town becomes part of the new U.S. State of Washington.
* 1890
** Town of Spokane Falls renamed "Spokane."
** Casino Opera House opens (approximate date).
** Population: 19,922.
* 1891
** Spokane High School and Holy Names Academy built.
** Amtrak inter-city rail station opened.
* 1892 - Great Northern Railway built.
* 1893 - September 19: Franz Ferdinand of Austria visits town incognito.
* 1894 - The Spokesman-Review newspaper in publication.
* 1895
** Spokane County Courthouse built.
** U.S. military Fort George Wright established near town.
* 1896 - Deaconess Hospital established.
* 1897 - Chamber of Commerce and Spokane Stock Exchange established.
* 1900 - Population: 36,848.

## 20th century

* 1904
** Spokane and Inland Empire Railroad began operations (until 1929).
** Manito Park and Botanical Gardens created.
* 1905
** Spokane Public Library building opens.
** Woman's Club formed.
* 1908 - Portland-Spokane railway begins operating.
* 1909 - Federal building constructed.
* 1910
** Commission form of government adopted.
** Population: 104,402.
* 1914
** Whitworth College active.
** Davenport Hotel in business.
** Clemmer Theater built.
* 1915 - Spokane Mountaineers club formed.
* 1916
** Eastern Washington State Historical Society established.
** Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture established as the Cheney Cowles Museum.
* 1919 - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter founded.
* 1921 - Civic building opens.
* 1925 - October: National Indian Congress held.
* 1929
** Spokane Daily Times begins publication.
** Cambern Dutch Shop Windmill built.
* 1931 - Fox Theater an Art Deco movie theater
* 1932 - Park Inn opens.
* 1933 - Grand Coulee Dam construction begins in vicinity of Spokane.
* 1935 - Benewah Milk Bottle building constructed.
* 1938 - Spokane Art Center opens.
* 1939 - Doyle's Ice Cream Parlor opens.
* 1942 - U.S. military Fairchild Air Force Base begins operating near Spokane.
* 1946
** Spokane municipal airport active.
** Yoke's Fresh Market in business.
* 1947 - Spokane Civic Theatre incorporated.
* 1954
** Spokane Coliseum opens.
** Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist built.
* 1955 - NorthTown Mall in business.
* 1960
** Mayor-council-manager form of government adopted.
** Population: 181,608.
* 1963
** Spokane Community College established.
** Protest during the Civil Rights Movement
* 1967 - Spokane Falls Community College opens.
* 1974
** Spokane Convention Center built.
** Pavilion Opera House and River Park Square shopping center open.
** Expo '74 world's fair held in Spokane.
* 1977 - Lilac Bloomsday Run begins.
* 1978
** Spokane Fire Station Museum established.
** Riverfront Park established.
* 1981
** Spokane River Centennial Trail constructed.
** Spokane Historic Landmarks Commission created.
* 1990 - Spokane Hoopfest begins.
* 1995
** Community Health Association of Spokane active.
** Spokane Arena opens.
* 1996 - City website online (approximate date).
* 1997
** Spokane Preservation Advocates organized.
** Spokane Valley Mall in business near city.
* 1999 - Spokane Washington Temple opens.

## 21st century

* 2003
** September 23: Gun incident at high school.
** James E. West becomes the 43rd mayor.
* 2005
** Cathy McMorris Rodgers becomes U.S. representative for Washington's 5th congressional district.
** Spokane Valley Heritage Museum established.
* 2007 - Spokane hosts U.S. Figure Skating Championships
* 2010
** Population: 208,916.
** Spokane hosts U.S. Figure Skating Championships
* 2011 - January: Bombing attempt.
* 2012 - David Condon becomes the 46th mayor of Spokane.
* 2020
** Population: 228,989.
** Nadine Woodward becomes the 47th Mayor of Spokane.
** Construction began on the Spokane Sportsplex owned by the Spokane Public Facilities District.
** Construction began on the City Line.