Roadrunner Recap: Reunion Day 5

Our reunion ended a couple of days ago, but I want to note our times for posterity.  So the next few blogs will continue with our reunion.  My brothers and their wives and Pam and I joined up in Spokane (and traveled to the surrounding area) June 22-29.
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Day 5 back in Spokane:

Almadean and Jim met and married in Spokane in 1942.  During those years, the Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane was a landmark.  It continues to be.  It has a lot of history.  The hotel is named after Louis Davenport who was commissioned by local businessmen to build it.

Mr Davenport wanted to bring Europe to Spokane and it became his theme.  Architectural influences from Spain, France, England, Italy and Russia can be seen throughout the hotel.

The doors opened in 1914 and was an instant hit.  It grew in prestige and renown until after World War II when visitors and the railroads that brought them changed course.  Automobile travel increased while travel by train to the city steadily decreased.

Over the years many famous people stayed at the hotel including Mary Pickford and Tyrone Power, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.  More recently, Cher, Neil Diamond, Jerry Seinfeld and Sting have stayed at the hotel.

And my brothers and their wives wanted to stay there and experience the best Spokane has to offer!  It is a true treasure and fantastic, historic hotel.

As you might expect the rooms were more than ordinary

After they checked in (we stayed at the Fairchild AFB Famcamp in our own beds) we met by the fountain in the Grand Lobby for a tour of the hotel with our docent Ken.

Our first stop was the Isabella Ballroom, Mr. Davenport's favorite room in the hotel.

Then we stopped at the Marie Antoinette Ballroom

The Elizabethan Room hosted many meetings and events.

Mr. Davenport had his office at one end of the room.  He often would come in and greet the guests.

Our last stop was the Hall of the Doges.  It is Spokane's oldest ballroom and the only flying ballroom in the world.

The entire ballroom was removed intact in 2000 and placed inside the newly constructed east wing of the hotel.

After the tour we had a fantastic dinner by the Grand Ballroom Fireplace.

(view from second floor balcony)

(floor level view)

After dinner, we walked around the downtown area.  The city was just concluding their 'Hoops Fest 2011' tournament where 9000 3-person teams competed.  The city blocked off streets and constructed basketball courts for the games.  We have no idea who won or how many brackets there were.  We saw a few games finishing up.

And we walked by the Bing Crosby Theater

We probably would have taken in a show if the schedule had worked out but the next show was the day everyone was leaving.

We walked around some more and then bid good night to everyone and returned home to the Roadrunner.

It was a fun day in downtown Spokane and a great tour and dinner at the Davenport Hotel.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles and hope everyone has a safe / fun 4th of July!

Until next time...