I Congo Dist. 115 .. I~ Hon. Thomas S. Foley Form 10·300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE (July 1969) NATIONAL• PARk SERVICE • Washington COUNTY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Spokane 5P 51( INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER I DATE (Type all entrzes - complete epphceble sectrons) I COMMON ______ ~G~r~=e~a~tNorthern Railway Depot ANO/OR HISTORIC L __ same 7 ._~A TIO~N=~7.=:-_':..- -,--:,_' __ ·,,;.::,/__ ' .:.i.:......:.' •.:..~;:..'_:......:.·_·:.....:..... __ ·_':......:...:.·i· _.:..' •...:;..-"-''-I' 5 rF(EE T ...,,11:' NUMBER West 400 block, South Bank of Havermale Island ('"11'1' OR TOWN ~-'--'----_--=._:...:......::..:::......._------~ Sookane <;1 A Tl I CODE ICOUNTY I CODE Washinaton l:i-:T l Spokane lUlU 13' CLASSiFICA:TioN·:-=~l,:.,::::::~-.---o-.-.-c;.-.-. "":"">",,,'l.-• ...::.:;.:....:-. +-:-..-."",.'-'::,:.1:::7'. :;:..:.~:..-._...,..,"". .l.::..•.::..:.:.....,-I. CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE OWNERSHIP 51 "lUS (Chr>ck One) z TO THE PUBLIC l] DIstrict [2f: BUilding o PubliC Public AcquI.,tlon o KJ OccupIed Ves o o Structure [X Private [J: I n Process D Unee eupred 0 Restru::ted D Ob,." D Both o e.,n9 Considered o Preservohon work 0 Unre.trlcted I- t n p'og'." g] N. U PRESENT USE (Check Ono or More an ApproprIate) :::;) D Agflculturol 0 Government I)J: Tronsportatlon o Comments CommerClol ["] Indu~ltlol 0:: [J [)fOther (Spedfy) I- r J Educenene l [] Mliltory BN Engineering~ . _ [-I Enlrtrtommant [I Museum uses offices -- z OWNER OF PROPERTY .." .,• ~ 1- ..2Bu~~:r;~t:OR. NortberR. IHS"'.c ...::..:.__ ----'- 1 PJ .,• w STREET AND NUMBf;R -- 00 " w ::T..... i46 EaSE Fif~A Street~ ~==~--------_-~--~ "" CITV o n TOWN I CODE lE I 27 r-t- , 0 y~ / ' , . " , y , " ::s (fl n 0 Engineering Dept., City of Spokane '0 c 0 z "1 ru.c r AND NUWBER ., :>;' -c I City Hall, North 221 Wall Street ::sPJ <:11 V ou TOWN STATE COI ...E CD Spokane WashJ.ngton 53 EREPRESENTATION I,N ~~!=_S_T~"IN::G::...::SU=R:..V:::E:..Y=_S_.:...·- '_~.~ c....._ Tl r c s- OF SURVEY ".,z 1--_ Re~~=r.v~.::e~y_:a=n:.:.d.=_:.:A:.:.d..::d..::i:.:t:.:i:..o:..n:.::...,~t..::o=_S~:.'::.pokaneFalls ., 0" 0 .. Teo F SU R V I. v ==-;;-C;-;;-;;-;::;;-~:;_---_--'D='-.:.F::.d::.::,:.Q:.1 __ ",D,,--S::':::Q:'.:.-.-_...!D=,-,,:C:,:Q::,::.:n:.!'Y~_~[X~.:L':Q::cQ::':'-'-__ · z '" tJt:P05ITOF<V I'n~ SURVEY RECORDS c z < " ~ . Engineering Dept., City of Spokane, Citv Hall ·" c: <;lHCET AND NllMBt-n · ~m o ~~rth 221 Wall Street z ("lTV OR TOWN STATE r- CODE I-+- -< I- -=Sr.p:::o::k:.::a:.:n:.;e:________________________I Washington o -;• m / .. [7:, DESCRIPTION', • (Chock Ono) • o Excello"t D{J Good 0 Fal, 0 Detenorated 0 RUins 0 Unexposed CONDITION S11.gh tly (Cht'ck~o;n:·:::)=-----==--'-I='::":"'-=-=:';:(C~h::-.c::;:.~o:=n.-.:)=:.o::::::'_--l IXI Altered CI Unaltered [l Moved ~ OnQlnal Site DE SC RI e E THE PRE'EN T AN 0 0 RiG 1NAL {;;".~n~o=w=n);-;p'::H:;;V-;;"::C:'-c:-:-.p;;";P:::';-:'!;:R:"N:7:C::E:-~=:':'::"'---''='-~=~::'-----l The physical appearance of the Great Northern depot is virtuall~ the same now as when it was designed more than seventy years ago. It is one of the finest examples of railroad architecture in the United States. It is one of Spokane's most important focal points, containing a one-hundred and f1fty-five foot tall tower, and being located on a small island in the Spokane River in the center of the City of Spokane. The building stands across the south river channel from a partially similar four story structure, the Union Pacific station. The two, when V1ew ed together, form a scene reminiscent of the piazza del Duomo in Italy, except for the substition of a reflecting river pool in place of the paved court. The Great Northern depot can best be described as a very fine example of the "Eclect1c School".l The tower is primar11y from the Italian Romanesque period, while the main structure is sty~ m after Sir Christopher Wren's English Renaissance which was heavily influenced by the Italian Renaissance school. m The structure is 316 feet long by 56 feet deep. It rests on a z cut granite plinth (which is purported to have been imported from England). The remainder of the facade is buff colored face brick (almost white) with granite sills, native sandstone -I trim, and metal ornamentation. The brick remains in excellent ;IQ condition, but requires steam cleaning and repointing. The roof c:: 1S clay tile, apparently in fine condition. n The clock tower gracing the structure is perhaps the most -I distinguished feature of the building. Rising over 155 feet above ground level the tower is an estab11shed member of the a Spokane skyline. The stat1stics pertaining to the clock itself z are quite impressive. The nine foot diameter clock faces made it the largest timepiece in the Pacific Northwest. The glass dials total over 1400 pounds. The zinc pendulum rod weighs nearly 500 pounds and is 8-1/2 feet in length. The total weight comes to 7050 pounds for the entire piece. The clock was placec 1n service at high noon on June 20, 1902. 1. In the 19th Century, architects split into two groups--those concerned with classical form, and those concerned with individ ual expression. The classical form group used Greek forms for their inspiration and developed the "Neo-Classic" style, t.yp ica) of government build1ngs. The ind1vidual expressionists rejec~ single styles and borrowed elements from many styles, and are now known as the "Eclectic School". \ .----=_._-- -- ---_._--- Form 10 3000 UNITED STATES DePARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 5TAll! (Jul, 1969) •NA T10NAL PARK SERVICE • NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY· NOMINATION FORM 1--__ "-Sp9j{ane _ f=OR NPS USE ONLY • r-----:_-:-._----: (C_'OO_I'_n_uB_I_IO_n_S_h_e_el_! ..L__ ~_-;._;_~'_:;-._N_~_0-~-H-··_- I-_-_~:_~-~-·. (Numb"r .11 "ntrlo,,) 7. Description (cont~nued) The interior consists primarily of plaster walls, ceilings and ornamentation. The ground floor level has a marble floor (now tile covered?), enameled brick wainscotting, satin finished oak cabinetry and woodwork, and leaded glazing. There has been some (very ill-advised) remodelling in the first floor area; however, it seems feas~ble to restore the area to a "near original" condi t~on without undue cost. The second and third floors were designed as open loft areas. The second floor has been divided into smaller office spaced fro its original one large room. This was done with partit~ons of wood and frosted glass. A hall runs the length of the floor di iding the space equally. The offices on the north and south side are of approximately equal sizes. The restroom is in the north east corner. The stairway from the second floor to the ground floor is in the same corner to the east of the restroom. There is another stairway in the southwest corner, serving all three floors. The third floor has also been partitioned off in the same manner as the second, but to a much lesser extent. The north side ~s mostly open as one large room. There is a small office in the northwest corner (possible 12 x 12). There is no frosted glass in the divider, which runs from east to west to divide the third floor into north and south sections. It is more like a counter or half wall. The south side is also open, and the safe in the tower structure opens directly into the room from the west face of the tower wall. There is some office space at the east end which is partitioned off by a full wood wall. This partitioning of the loft areas was probably done about opening day, and has undoubtedly been somewhat modified since then. All partitions were non-load bearing and should lend themselves to remodelling easily if desired. The nearly 100 electric arc lights illuminating the structure made it the-best lighted building in Spokane during its early years. GP09ulOez Ill. SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (chec;:lc One or More••• Appropriate) • o Pr.·Columblan i o 16th Century o 18th Century lXI 20,h Centvry [l 15th Century o 17 th Century I-I 19th Ce.,tu" SF'ECIFIC OATEl,l (TfAppl1l."lIhle and Known) 1902 AREA' OF SIGNI FICANCC (Ch.c~ One or Mot ••• Approprt,.,f.O) Abo,lglnal o Educotlon L-J Pol'tlcal Ll Urbon Plann,"g [.1 Prehistoric o Engln •• rlng o RelIgion/Phi lJ Oth.r (Specify) [::J HI.lode o Inaultry losophy [J Ag,lcultu~ o InYentlon o SClI,mce ArchlNctur. o o Londscope o Sculpture OAr' Architecture o Soclal/Humon_ Commerce Llt.ratur. IXI o .tanon IX] Communications o Mllitory o Thea'.r ConservatIon o o MUSIC ~ Transportation ST ...TE ....ENT OF SIGNIFICANCE One of the most prominent buildings in the development and history of Spokane is the Great Northern Railway depot. Sit- V'l uated ~n the heart of the city this structure has been a foca. z point of activity throughout Spokane's growth. o The Great Northern depot had the distinction of being the finest railroad station west of Chicago upon complet~on. Work ... on this building was begun May 8, 1901 and completed in just u over a year's time on May 30, 1902. ~ Q: Being built during the early 1900's makes the Great Northern worthy of preservation, expecially when you consider it has ... been basically unaltered since dedicated. It was concieved V'l during the most significant time in Spokane's growth.