While now in the Pacific timezone, this Eastern timezone native arises early – 4:00 AM. Sunrise is 4:51 AM so at least it is light out early too. After the usual morning routines, including breakfast in the hotel restaurant, it’s time to go exploring. Since this is my 4th time in Spokane, it’s time to branch out of the immediate Riverfront area and discover the Gonzaga University area.

My destination is Bing Crosby’s Home. Just learned Bing grew up in Spokane and lived here until 1911. The weather is perfect for walking – cool and clear – no people out and minimal traffic on the roads. Lots of signs for people running for election in the city/state, an grain elevator, and you cannot miss the border of the university with the large signage.

Thank goodness for GPS guiding me to the Bing Crosby home. The person mowing the lawns and watering flowers on campus asks if she can take my picture. Nice! A short walk from the home on the University campus is a statue dedicated to “Bing” Crosby which sits in front of the Crosby Center. Right next to it is a monument dedicated to remembering 9-11 victims.

The Campus is peaceful on this Sunday morning. School is not in session right now. The Campus’s landscaping is stunning.

Just as you enter the campus grounds, there is a beautiful Catholic Church – St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church. I felt compelled to enter and attend the Mass. The church was dedicated on October 12, 1911 (Oct 12 is my birthday!). The first hymn to sing is “Here I am, Lord,” a favorite. Definitely God was calling me today. And the service is what I would call ‘Contemporary’ – no bells and smells. Amazingly, uplifting moment.

After my exploration at Gonzaga, time to head back towards the hotel. Instead of retracing my steps, I walk down towards the Spokane River and find the Centennial Trail. The trail follows along the Spokane River with interesting statues and sculptures intermixed with nature’s beauty. This is a wonderful place to enjoy walking in the outdoors on a beautiful Sunday morning.

Spokane’s history dates back 8-13,000 years ago with the Salishan Tribe. Then came the British explorer David Thompson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Thompson_(explorer)?wprov=sfti1

Thompson created a trading post – The Spokane House in 1810. In the 1830-1850’s, travelers coming west on the Oregon Trail, sometimes veered north and helped settle this part of Washington and Idaho.

Next came the Northern Pacific Railway in 1881, soon followed by other railroads creating a major hub in between the Rocky Mountains to the East and the Cascades Mountains to the West. In 1889 the town burned down, the new buildings were then built with brick and stones (sounds like Chicago!). Father Joseph Cataldo, a Jesuit priest came to the area in 1865 establishing a school for Native American children. Then he helped establish Gonzaga University in 1887, the US Army built Fort Spokane in 1880, Gold and Silver rush in 1883. A long history in this city.

Today, Spokane is the most populous city and the economic and cultural center of the Inland Northwest. The River is a huge benefit to the city for power. Here’s a few more pictures of this fun city from this morning. More to explore later today!