Spokane

Spokane is the largest city between Seattle and Minneapolis. Developed as an agricultural and timber processing center in the late 19th century, it has matured into a remarkable mid-sized city. The area along the Spokane River, once the location of rail yards and mills of various kinds, was transformed when the city hosted a World's Fair in 1974. It now provides a great place to visit, and this 2.6 mile route follows the north and south riverbank trails in a loop through the city. The route is level.

The walk begins at the entrance to Riverfront Park, along the Spokane River, at the Rotary Fountain at Spokane Falls Blvd and Howard Street. What was once a large railroad yard at the center of Spokane was transformed into the 1974 World's Fair site. The legacy of the fair is a 100-acre park encompassing both sides of the river and one island. This rotary fountain wasn't constructed until 2005. Beyond the fountain is the entrance to the main part of Riverfront Park, which hosts numerous special events. In October, 2015, when this photo was snapped, the special event was a Chinese Festival of Lanterns.

Go right from the Rotary Fountain. Straight ahead is the Looff Carousel. Originally built in 1909 and located on the west side of Spokane, it was moved to this site in 1967.


Continue along the Riverfront Trail under the Stevens Street overpass. Next on your right will be this gigantic Radio Flyer Red Wagon, placed here in 1989 and serving as a giant slide and play area.

Continue along the riverfront under another road overpass. On your right is the Spokane Performing Arts Center, which includes this interesting piece of sculpture.

The Performing Arts Center itself is a dazzling building along the riverfront, overlooking this pretty pond. Beyond the Performing Arts Center is the Convention Center - both facilities look like they can hold large events, perhaps larger than would be expected in a city the size of Spokane.

Continue along the riverfront trail. After you cross under busy Highway 2 the next stretch of trail becomes much quieter, as you pass between the river on your left and, after a couple of hotels and a residential development on your right. Eventually you will get to this pedestrian bridge, which you should take to cross to the north side of the Spokane River.

After crossing the bridge turn left and continue along the riverside path that follows the north side of the Spokane River. You are now at the edge of the Gonzaga University campus. This Jesuit school was established in 1887 and currently has 7,400 students. While the main campus is away from the river to the right, you will pass by the beautiful Jundt Art Museum and its accompanying sculpture garden. This attractive building opened in 1995.

Continue along the riverfront trail, which passes through a series of tranquil settings along the Spokane River. At a couple of places you can sit down and take in the peaceful and beautiful scenery.

Continue on the north side of the river under the busy Highway 2 bridge and into a more commercial portion of the riverfront, adjacent to several large hotels. Eventually you will get to a bridge that goes over onto the Riverfront Park site. While you won't go over this bridge, you should take a look at the falls and power plant along the river. Spokane was founded at this location because the Spokane River Falls provided an easy power source in the 19th century.

Continuing on the riverfront trail, you will pass several more motels. Soon on the right is the Spokane Arena. The facility was opened in 1995 and seats 12,000 for most sporting events and concerts.

At Howard Street, which now doesn't allow motor vehicles, turn left and cross the bridge over the Spokane River to Canada Island. Once on Canada Island take the pathway to the right. In the early 20th century the island was the site of a large laundry, and eventually became a freight yard. In 1974, as part of the World's Fair, the island was cleaned up and renamed as a symbol of national friendship between the U.S. and Canada. Walk through the peaceful center of the island to the totem pole and flags, and it is hard to imagine that this was once an industrial site! The building across the river is a historic flour mill, originally constructed in 1895.

The other feature of Canada Island is the spectacular view it provides of the Upper Falls of the Spokane River. After viewing the north side of the island (see above), turn left and follow the footbridge that leads from the south side of the island over to Riverfront Park. Here you'll see the south side falls.

On the other side of the footbridge you will see this attractive building on the left, which appears to be an old power station. Turn right to go around the building.

Before you get to Post Street take the trail fork to the left. The trail meanders back and forth over this waterway, which drains the water area on the south side of Riverfront Park. Eventually head left and back to your starting point at the entrance to Riverfront Park.

Sisters

Sisters seems like an odd name for a town - until you actually go through it and look to the south. There, rising above, are the majestic Three Sisters peaks along with suitor Mt. Bachelor and, perhaps the victim of a fight with the sisters, Broken Top.  All are volcanic peaks that are part of the Cascades "ring of fire," although the last big eruption of any of them occurred about 2,000 years ago. The area where the town is located is on the east side of the Santiam Pass, so it was settled by Native Americans and early European pioneers. The town site is flat, so this 2.3 mile walk has no significant ups and downs. The city is rapidly growing, increasing from 959 to 2,038 between 2000 and 2010. The nice little downtown, rustic looking residential neighborhoods, and spectacular scenery are worth a visit!

The walk starts at Sisters Creekside Park, located at the intersection of Locust Street and Jefferson Avenue. If you cross the grassy area near the intersection you will come to this covered park bridge over Whychus Creek which leads to the Sisters Municipal Campground. After looking at the bridge turn around and head back to the intersection of Jefferson and Locust.

Go north on Jefferson one block and then turn left onto Washington Avenue. After three blocks on Washington turn right onto Spruce Street. This part of Sisters is a mixture of eclective residential architecture, such as this residence which includes a perch.

Continue three blocks on Spruce Street, crossing Cascade Avenue. This is Sisters' "main street," but it also serves as State Route 20, the route to and over the Santiam Pass. The city and the Oregon Department of Transportation have worked mightily to reconcile the fact that is roadway serves two very different purposes. Perhaps fortunately, the "main street" has won out, and traffic through the town slows and stops so as not to ruin the street atmosphere.

At Spruce and Main Avenue, to the right is The Belfry. This 1914 church building has been repurposed as an event venue for concerts and other occasions. It's a great example of adaptive reuse.

Turn left on Main Avenue. On the left is Fir Street Park, which just opened in 2014. The small wooden bandstand is a contrast to a large controversial city amphitheater project elsewhere in town that was dropped in 2014.

Turn left on Fir Street and head back toward Cascade Avenue. On the corner of Fir and Cascade, to the right is Bronco Billy's Saloon, located in the old Sisters Hotel Building constructed in 1912. After many years as a community fixture, the saloon abruptly closed in 2015, for reasons that remain mysterious.

Cross Cascade Avenue and turn right for three blocks on the south side of the street. In the middle of this stretch is a nice little rest area to the left with some interesting statuary. There is also a public restroom off to the left beyond the statuary.

Turn left on Oak Street to leave the Sisters "main drag" and after one block turn right onto Hood Avenue. This is the "secondary" Main Street of Sisters, with some more shops. One of the shops, on the right, is Miss Sew-it-all, in this funky building.

After one block on Hood Avenue turn left onto Pine Street, after one block on Pine turn right on Washington Avenue, after one block on Washington turn left onto Cottonwood Street, and then after one block on Cottonwood turn right onto Jefferson Avenue. All of these streets contain older, more modest homes, but Jefferson Avenue provides a transition to a newer and much more luxurious section of the city. The trees that predominate in the old part of town are much scarcer here, the better to enhance the views of the mountain peaks to the south and west.

Continue on Jefferson to Pine Meadow Street. At the end of Jefferson there is a direct view of Mt. Washington. This peak is more than 7,800 feet high and last erupted about 1,300 years ago.

Turn left on Pine Meadow and walk to the end of the street, where it meets Hope Avenue. Ahead is a beautiful view of the Three Sisters, for which this town is named. The three mountains are also unofficially known as "Hope," "Faith," and "Charity," They are all slightly taller than 10,000 feet.

Turn left onto Hope Avenue and then turn left again onto Cottonwood Street. Along with the beautiful mountain views this neighborhood of town includes some impressive-looking homes, of which this is one example on Cottonwood.

Turn right on St. Helens Avenue and head back into the older, wooded part of Sisters. After three blocks turn left on Ash Street, and then after one block right on Jefferson Avenue. At the corner of Jefferson and Elm is the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District station, an imposing structure built in 1980, and an important institution in this community.

On the next block to the left is Village Green Park, a pleasant space that has been a centerpiece for the community for quite a while. Among other events it hosts the Sisters Folk Festival every September.

Continue east on Jefferson. The rustic neighborhood includes a few vacation rental homes, such as this one, the Fish Inn Bike Inn, on the left.

Continue on Jefferson to Locust Street and Sisters Creekside Park, where the walk began.

Seattle Churches - First Hill

First Hill is appropriately named. It rose above the small shelf of land along Elliott Bay (since augmented with a significant amount of fill into the original bay) where Seattle began in the 1850's. The hill has seen a lot of phases and changes since then. This walk highlights the religious institutions - including the Roman Catholic Seattle University - that cover the northern part of First Hill. The 2.8 mile route has lots of ups and downs, but the payoff comes in the form of panoramic views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay to the west.

Our walk begins at the corner of 8th Avenue and James Street. Proceed north on 8th Avenue. To the left is the Trinity Episcopal Parish. The Gothic Revival building was constructed in 1892, replaced a wooden predecessor which burned in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. The interior burned again in 1902, but the exterior was retained and augmented. More details of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, can be found here. The church is entered through red doors, an Episcopal Church tradition. The parish has remained in the Episcopal mainstream during the various controversies which roiled the national church during the 2000's, and welcomes all Christians to its altar. It's space is also used for a lot of classical music concerts.

After one block on 8th Avenue turn left onto Cherry Street. Go underneath noisy Interstate 5 and then turn right onto 5th Avenue. Go two blocks north on 5th. On the left, at the corner of 5th and Marion, is the former First United Methodist Church. This Beaux Arts style building was opened in 1910. When the Methodists moved to a smaller building to the north in 2001 the building was the subject of a prolonged battle over historic preservation, which ended with the church being spared and "air rights" above going toward permitting of a large office tower right next to it, which has yet to be built. Meanwhile, the building served for a few years as a concert hall before being purchased by the Mars Hill Church, a growing non-denominational congregation, and opening in early 2013. Less than two years later the church closed its doors at this location, and at the end of 2014 dissolved as a result of massive controversy surrounding its founder, Mark Driscoll. The beautiful old church building has a big "for sale" sign on its front, and its future is uncertain once again.

Continue north on Fifth Avenue. At the intersection of Fifth and Madison, to the left, is the striking Seattle Public Library, opened in 2004.

At Spring Street turn right and go east for three blocks, crossing Interstate 5 again. At the corner of Spring and 7th Avenue, to the right, is Seattle's First Presbyterian Church, a "mainstream" Protestant congregation. The current building was constructed in 1962, replacing its 1907 predecessor. The architecture is typical of "modern" church designs of that era. The church's original founder in the 19th century was Dr. George Whitworth, a Washington State pioneer who also founded Whitworth College, originally in Tacoma and now in Spokane.

At 8th Avenue turn left and proceed one block to Seneca Street. At the corner of 8th and Seneca, to the left, is Town Hall Seattle. While the building has served as a public meeting hall and music venue since 1999, as you might guess it is featured on this walk because it used to be a church. The Roman Revival structure was finished in 1922 as the home of the Fourth Church of Christ Scientist, Seattle. The story of the Christian Science church, founded by Mary Baker Eddy and most known for its belief in faith healing instead of medicine, is well-known. Christian Science has suffered major declines in national membership, and many of its very grand edifices have been adapted to new uses around the nation.

At Seneca Street turn left and go back over the I-5 freeway to Sixth Avenue. At Sixth and Seneca is the Plymouth Church, a United Church of Christ (UCC) congregation. As with most UCC congregations, the congregation welcomes all people to its services and events. The UCC is the descendant of the congregational churches of early American New England Puritanism, though it's hard to imagine the Massachusetts Puritans of the 17th century agreeing with the theological positions of the church today. But that's the point of congregational churches - they are mostly autonomous from each other and free to adopt positions on theology, liturgy, and most other church functions that fit the needs of the congregation. The 1910 church building at this location was damaged in the 1965 Olympia Earthquake, and this modern building replaced it.

After viewing Plymouth Church turn around and face the I-5 freeway. To your left will be a trail veering away from Seneca and into Seattle's Freeway Park. The park is built on a massive platform over Interstate 5, and includes features such as this fountain, visible soon after you enter the park. The park opened in 1976. Take the path that goes to the left around the fountain and then curves to the left.

This path leads eventually to the upper entrance of the Washington State Convention Center, a massive facility with its main entrance down below on Pike Street.

At the doors to the convention center entrance turn right to continue through Freeway Park. You will soon come to this whimsical sculpture, which is called the Seattle George Monument, created by noted Seattle public artist Buster Simpson. A weathervane at the top portrays profiles of George Washington and Chief Seattle.

Right beyond the Seattle George Monument, you will see this stairway plunging down and out of Freeway Park. Proceed down the stairway.

At the bottom of the stairway turn left onto 9th Avenue, and after a block you will see this set of long stairs back up the hill to the right. Take the stairway and trudge back up.

At the top of the stairway you will find yourself at the corner of Union and Terry Streets. Walk straight ahead on Union Street - the street veers slightly to the right at Minor Avenue. After three blocks you will see this Mission Revival building at the corner of Union and Summit. It is the Summit School, a former Seattle public school built in 1905, and now home to the private Northwest School. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The best façade of this building is actually down Summit Street, to the left.

At Harvard Avenue turn right. Go through a complicated intersection with Seneca Street and continue on Harvard. On your right will be Seattle's First Baptist Church. This monumental Gothic revival structure was completed in 1912. First Baptist is definitely a part of America's "liberal" Baptist tradition - it welcomes all potential parishioners regardless of, among other things, their sexual orientation, and is also proud of its history as a "peace" church.

At Madison Street turn left, and you will be soon entering the campus of Seattle University, a Roman Catholic school administered by the Jesuits. The first campus building on view is the administration building on the right, with a distinctive bell tower. The building includes a small chapel.

After passing the administration building you will see a pedestrian entrance onto the campus to the right. Take the entrance, and then quickly take the campus driveway to the left, which skirts the Union Green. At the east end of the green space take a right. On your left is the Chapel of St. Ignatius. This innovative worship space, with its striking modern design, was dedicated in 1997.

The chapel is open during most daylight hours, so go ahead and respectfully view the interior spaces as well, which also exemplify the striking modern design. The lawn area, with a single row of trees to the south of the Chapel, is known as the "Thinking Field," and is part of the overall design concept for the chapel.

Continue to the south end of the campus green and then past the Albers School of Business, then turn right. Continue on the campus roadway past the Quad, then turn left. In the middle of the Quad is this striking fountain, designed by famous artist George Tsutakawa. The plaza and the fountain date from the late 1980's. For sports fans, Seattle University is best known for the college career of this famous NBA player.

Continue past the quad, and then another block along the campus driveway. Turn right after you pass this structure which is the Arrupe Jesuit House. This building serves as home to many of the Jesuit priests that work on campus. It contains 16 bedrooms and various offices.

Continue on the campus driveway to the intersection of Broadway and Cherry Street. Continue straight on Cherry and then turn right onto Minor Avenue. To your right is the massive Swedish Medical Center complex, located here since 1912 (though obviously not in these buildings). The Swedish Hospital complex is one of three on First Hill, which is sometimes known as "Pill Hill."

Continue on Minor Avenue to Marion Street, then turn left. After two blocks, at the corner of Terry Avenue and Marion, to the right is the Chancery Building, so named because it was the administrative headquarters for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. The administration has moved across the street and this building is now the Archdiocese youth and young adult center.

Turn left on Terry Avenue. On your left is O'Dea High School, an all-male Roman Catholic institution with about 400 students. It has been on this site since 1923, and is named for an early 20th century archbishop.

On your right is the imposing St. James Cathedral, spiritual home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle. Completed in 1907, the cathedral was originally graced with a large dome. However it collapsed under a heavy snowfall in 1916, and was not replaced.

Continue one block on Terry to Columbia Street, then turn right. If you were to continue on Terry you would come to the Frye Art Museum, in a distinctive modern structure. After one block on Columbia turn left onto Ninth Avenue. At the corner of 9th and Columbia is Skyline at First Hill, a luxurious new (opened in 2009) retirement community owned and managed by Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest, a non-profit organization affiliated with Seattle's Presbyterian churches.


Proceed two blocks on Ninth Avenue to James Street, enjoying (especially on a sunny day) the panoramic views downhill to the west of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay. Turn right on James Street, and after one block you will be back to the starting point of this walk.