Exploring Spokane, Washington

Our time in Spokane, Washington was brief as we were rushing for Seattle to kick off our road trip spanning the Pacific coast. My friend Mike and I still found time to do a bit of wandering and explored the Davenport Hotel and Steam Plant Square. We stayed at Hotel Ruby (a place I shot a few pictures of on a previous visit) and grabbed breakfast at Frank's Diner the next morning. All and all, not a bad start for what was really just a stop over.

Davenport Hotel

A photo posted by Luke Fandrich (@editingluke) on Aug 30, 2015 at 11:01pm PDT

Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee

Located in downtown Nashville, Ryman Auditorium was opened in 1892 and was originally known as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. The idea for the large venue was conceived by Thomas Ryman, a Nashville businessman, after listening to influential revivalist Samuel Porter Jones speak. 

Ryman Auditorium is perhaps best known as the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, which was hosted here from 1943-1974. At the time it was then called the Grand Ole Opry House. As you would expect, countless legends have performed on this stage over the years, including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, and Tammy Wynette. The list goes on and on and on.

Ryman Auditorium | Grand Ole Opry House ca. 1970

Today, Ryman Auditorium is still a popular venue and hosts everything from classical, country, and rock concerts to stand-up comedy and theatre. When the Opry moved in 1974, a circular section of the stage was cut from the Ryman and placed on the new stage at the Grand Ole Opry House so that musicians could continue to share in the legacy of this iconic venue. It would seem that Ryman Auditorium has become even more relevant with age, and is still undeniably one of the most revered theatres in Nashville, if not the world.  

Eureka Inn in Eureka, California

Opened in 1922, the Eureka Inn is a historically significant hotel located near the redwood forests along the coast of northern California. For decades, the Eureka Inn was the grandest hotel between Portland and San Francisco, and as a result, an impressive list of celebrities and dignitaries have stayed here. Portraits hang in the lobby of some of them, including Shirley Temple, Winston Churchill, Truman Capote, and Ronald Reagan among numerous others. 

Like most historic properties, the Eureka Inn has had its ups and downs over the years. It was shuttered in 2004, but reopened in 2010 and renovations and upgrades have been ongoing ever since. I'll be the first to admit that the Eureka Inn does struggle to compete with the amenities of more modern hotels, however the one thing that really makes it a standout is its character.

Eureka Inn ca. 1920s

As  you'd expect, there's a lot of redwood around this hotel. The lobby and hallways are like something out of the lodge in The Shining, and that actually made it really fun to explore. With old portraits on the walls, mementos from the Eureka Inn's past on display, and throwbacks like the old telephone booths in the lobby, it was easy to get swept up in the charm of this historic property. The Eureka Inn is the kind of place that makes you appreciate where you are.   

Old telephone booths in the Eureka Inn lobby.