The historic Davenport Hotel and Tower is situated in the heart of Spokane, Washington, a glowing reminder of the past. The massive building takes up a full city block. The hotel was abandoned in 1985 and fell into disgrace. After an impressive $38 million restoration the Davenport reopened in 2002.
There is a persistent story of a ghost that haunts the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. A woman, dressed in the fashion of the 1920’s, has been sighted by guests. The woman wanders the mezzanine and peers over the railing. The woman appears to be looking for someone in the lobby.
A search of newspaper archives revealed that the spirit may be Mrs. Ellen McNamara. Mrs. McNamara fell to her death through the hotel lobby skylights in 1920. She spoke her final words to a physician that night. Her last words were “Where did I go?” People wonder is she is still seeking an answer to that question.
History of the Davenport Hotel and Tower
The Davenport Hotel opened in 1914 and was celebrated as “one of America’s exceptional hotels.”The Davenport in Spokane, WA was the first hotel in the United States with air conditioning, central vacuum, housekeeping carts and accordion ballroom walls. The hotel had the largest and most complicated plumbing in the Pacific Northwest, with 30 miles of pipes delivering water to each of the 405 rooms. The hotel was gilded with gold and sparkled by crystal.The Davenport was an exceptional hotel of the era.. The massive hotel takes up an entire city block.
The original owner, Louis Davenport, called his hotel the “house of comfort” He ordered that the lobby fireplace to burn constantly as a symbol of hospitality.
Lewellyn “Louis” Davenport came to Spokane Falls in 1889 at the age of 20, to work in his uncle’s “Pride of Spokane Restaurant.”. The 1889 fire tore through Spokane and turned 322 square blocks into ashes. Young Davenport salvaged what he could and opened “Davenport’s Waffle Foundry”. From this humble beginning, Davenport built a hospitality empire.
Mr. Davenport put meticulous thought into the many aspects of the hotel. A book published by the hotel in 1915 details the philosophy behind the many fine appointments of the Davenport. Symbolism is found throughout the hotel. Winged lions represent swift service. Cavorting dolphins represent sociability. Knight’s helmets represent protection from the outside world. The architecture of the massive hotel was blended with art and design to create a world of visual wonder.
Mr. Davenport sold his beloved hotel in 1945 and saw it deteriorate. He passed away in his suite in 1951. The hotel deteriorated until it was closed in 1985. Demolition for the building was considered but the danger of asbestos saved the hotel from implosion.
The hotel was purchased by Walt & Karen Worthy in 2000 for $6.5 million. The entrepreneurs spent $38 million renovating the Davenport to make it grand again. Today the Davenport’s fireplace burns year around as a symbol of hospitality. The Davenport features amenities including Spokane’s finest restaurant, spa, indoor swimming pool, 24 hour fitness center, jacuzzi, 24 hour business center, full service concierge Town Car Service and pet walking.
The Davenport Hotel is restored to its former glory to recieve guests who appreciate the fine hospitality at the hotel.
