From the humble gift exchanges of tobacco and moccasins during the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the dazzling light displays that now illuminate downtown every winter, Spokane’s Christmas spirit has only grown brighter with each passing holiday. As the city has evolved, so too have these festive traditions to reflect the spirit of the times and ultimately give Spokane the gift of a rich tapestry of holiday celebrations that reflect this vibrant history and the enduring magic of Christmas that can only be found here in the Lilac City.
Spokane’s First Downtown Christmas Celebration in 1874
The festive spirit of Christmas in Spokane predates the city’s official founding, with early settlers bringing their holiday traditions to the region. The first celebrations in the area were believed to have occurred at the North West Company’s trading post, Spokane House, based on a 1928 story from the Spokesman-Review. Spokane House had been constructed in 1810 to serve as a fur trading post and was abandoned in 1826. Later, missionaries would also write about simple Christmas celebrations amongst their Native American converts in the region between the 1830s and 1840s.
The city’s 1874 Christmas celebration stands out as the first account of Christmas being celebrated in downtown Spokane. At the time, the region’s early pioneers were still a very isolated community, so much so that all 23 residents of downtown Spokane came together to enjoy a beautiful Christmas dinner. Among these 23 residents were five families with eight children between them. Wanting to give their children the most elaborate Christmas and New Year’s celebration they could ever imagine, the parents combined their resources to bring the holiday spirit to life.
Together, the families, which consisted of the James Glovers, the Yeatons, the Henry Cowleys, the Swifts, and the Pooles, prepared the two holiday dinners and purchased a Christmas tree. This close-knit celebration would become a holiday tradition for early Spokane settlers. William C. Gray, owner of the California House Hotel that would burn down in the Great Fire of 1889, recounted a similar holiday celebration a few years later in 1878. At the time, he spoke with a reporter in 1924 about that year’s festivities, telling of a wonderful Christmas time spent at the Glover’s house.
The Crescent Department Store Becomes a Holiday Shopping Hub
Downtown Spokane’s continued transformation into a festive and vibrant holiday hub mirrored the town’s growth and development. In the wake of increased holiday shoppers, The Crescent Department Store would emerge as the season’s premier shopping destination, embodying the essence of Christmas gifting.
At its peak, The Crescent was an economic anomaly in the form of a seven-story department store on West Main Avenue with a powerful presence and a knack for customer satisfaction with 101 departments to explore. Originally the Spokane Dry Goods Company, the first store opened on August 5, 1889, on West Riverside Avenue, the day after the Great Fire, making it the only remaining dry goods store in town. In 1917, construction began on the Crescent building, and a Christmas epicenter for Spokane was born.
The Crescent built its reputation on everything first class, from how packages were wrapped to a doorman who greeted repeat customers by name, and all its elegance made for a spectacular and enchanting Christmas for shoppers. The massive windows boasted elaborate displays of mechanical marionettes, enormous decorations, and toys as Christmas carols played. The department store’s Santa Claus and elves awaited inside, ready to capture the season’s magic with holiday photographs. Back then, holiday shoppers would dress to the nines just to go Christmas shopping, meeting under the famous Crescent clock before stepping inside to be lost in this remarkable winter wonderland of gifting.
The Crescent would eventually close in 1988, but during its decades of operation, it set the tone for Christmas excellence in Spokane, with each holiday shopping season spent here proving better than the last. In 1958, it even sported one of the largest Christmas displays in the city, with the seven-story building adorned by a huge 75-foot-high Christmas tree made up of 4,500 lights.
Christmas Tree Elegance Shines at the Davenport Hotel
Early Christmases at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane were just as magical as those at The Crescent. The hotel, which opened its doors in 1914, quickly became a beloved holiday destination. Louis Davenport, the hotel’s founder, was known for his generosity and love of the holiday season. The hotel hosted festive parties complete with beautiful Christmas trees, festive decorations, and sumptuous feasts.
The Davenport Hotel’s hallmark Christmas celebration, Christmas Tree Elegance, showcases stunningly decorated trees that captivate visitors and support the Spokane Symphony. The annual 13-day event began in 1983 and is the symphony’s largest annual fundraiser, attracting more than 100,000 attendees yearly.
Travel Back in Time to a Historic Spokane Christmas at the Campbell House
Those curious souls captivated by the wonderment of past Christmases in Spokane can visit the Campbell House for the holidays for a unique opportunity to experience an early 1900s Christmas. Established by prominent architect Kirkland Cutter for Amasa B. Campbell and his family in 1898, this grand Tudor Revival residence is currently part of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.
Each year, the museum transforms the Campbell House into a winter wonderland akin to a 1910 Christmas in Spokane. As you step through the doors, you’ll be transported back in time, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the holiday season. The house is adorned with elegant, vintage decorations, festive garlands, twinkling lights, and beautifully decorated Christmas trees decked out with antique ornaments. Guests also have the chance to explore the beautifully furnished rooms, imagining the Campbell family gathered around the fireplace, exchanging gifts, enjoying holiday festivities, and even partake in traditional holiday activities reminiscent of the time.
To enhance the immersive experience, the museum often features historical reenactors dressed in period costumes, portraying the Campbell family and their staff. These reenactors bring the history of Christmas to life, sharing stories and traditions from the past. Whether you’re admiring the vintage toys displayed in the children’s room or marveling at the opulent dining room, the Campbell House offers a glimpse into the holiday celebrations of Spokane’s bygone era.
And so, as the final notes of a Christmas carol fade into the winter air, we bid farewell to this journey through Spokane’s cherished holiday traditions. From the simple joys of the past to the grand celebrations of the present, the city’s Christmas spirit has always been a beacon of hope and cheer. As we turn the page on another holiday season, let us carry forward the legacy of Spokane’s Christmas spirit, ensuring that its magic continues illuminating the city for generations to come.
