Hidden Spokane: Urban Adventures in Washington's Riverside Metropolis

Beneath downtown Spokane lies a network of steam tunnels and service corridors dating back to the 1920s, when the city was the rail hub of the Inland Northwest. While official tours are limited, the visible portions around Riverside Avenue tell a fascinating story. I spent a morning photographing accessible tunnel entrances and ventilation grates—remnants of a time when underground infrastructure connected major buildings for steam heating.

The best entry point for understanding this system is the Davenport Hotel's lower levels, where original tunnel connections are preserved as historical features. The hotel staff are surprisingly knowledgeable about the underground network's history. I recommend visiting on a weekday morning when foot traffic is lighter.

For documenting these darker spaces, I brought my headlamp, which proved essential for examining architectural details in poorly lit corridors. The rechargeable feature meant I wasn't burning through batteries during long exploration sessions.

West of downtown, Browne's Addition stands as Spokane's most architecturally intact historic district. Walking these streets feels like stumbling through a portal to 1895. The neighborhood developed during Spokane's mining boom, when silver barons built extravagant Victorian mansions along tree-lined avenues.

I spent an entire afternoon photographing the district's Queen Anne and Colonial Revival homes, many now converted to apartments but retaining their original character. The Patsy Clark Mansion (now a restaurant) offers the best interior access to period architecture. The contrast between ornate 19th-century craftsmanship and modern college-town energy—Gonzaga University sits nearby—creates a fascinating temporal collision.

Coyle Park provides an excellent vantage point for understanding the neighborhood's layout. I sat there with my guidebook, mapping out architectural walking routes and cross-referencing historical photos. The fall colours were spectacular against the Victorian facades.

Spokane's identity was forged by railways, and the bones of that history remain scattered across the city. The most accessible exploration site is the area around the old Great Northern Railway depot, now converted but surrounded by abandoned sidings and infrastructure.

I followed the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River, where it parallels decommissioned railway corridors. The trail passes beneath several historic railway bridges—massive steel structures slowly surrendering to rust and vegetation. These bridges tell the story of Spokane's decline from regional rail hub to post-industrial reinvention.

The Monroe Street Bridge area offers particularly rich exploration. Look for the concrete foundations of demolished railway buildings and the ghost outlines of sidings on satellite imagery. I spent hours here with my field notebook, sketching infrastructure layouts and documenting historical markers. The waterproof pages proved essential when an unexpected autumn shower rolled through.

Every city has a street that time forgot. In Spokane, that's East Sprague Avenue. Once the city's main commercial thoroughfare, East Sprague now exists in a fascinating state of decline and slow regeneration. Vintage neon signs advertise long-closed businesses. Art deco facades hide behind decades of neglect.

This isn't poverty tourism—it's architectural archaeology. I walked the stretch between Division and Havana, documenting mid-century commercial architecture that would cost millions to recreate today. Several buildings retain original terrazzo floors, pressed tin ceilings, and hand-painted signage. The contrast between abandonment and emerging creative reuse makes for compelling photography.

The area requires street smarts—this isn't Browne's Addition. I visited during daylight hours, stayed aware of my surroundings, and engaged respectfully with locals. Several business owners shared fascinating stories about the street's heyday when Sprague was Spokane's retail heart. My voice recorder captured these oral histories perfectly, and the long battery life meant I could record multiple conversations without worrying about power.

Spokane rewards the prepared explorer. I based myself at a budget hotel near Gonzaga University, which provided easy access to both downtown and the historic districts. The city's compact size means everything is within a 15-minute drive, though I walked most routes to better observe architectural details.

Transportation is straightforward—Spokane's public transit is functional but limited. I used a combination of walking and rideshare apps. For gear, I traveled light: comfortable boots, weather-appropriate layers, and my documentation kit. The multi-tool proved invaluable for safely examining architectural details and occasionally clearing vegetation from historical markers.

Food and coffee are excellent and affordable. The Rocket Bakery near Browne's Addition became my morning planning spot, and several East Sprague diners serve authentic working-class meals that put trendy downtown spots to shame. Budget $50-70 daily for food, accommodation, and local transport.