Burlington Northern Clock Tower - Spokane, WA
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 47° 39.688 W 117° 25.145
11T E 468534 N 5278759
All that remains of a railway depot and the Burlington Northern railyards, the Clock Tower remains as a link to the past and Spokane's history as a transportation hub.
Waymark Code: WMJTXC
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 12/31/2013
Views: 7
It's 1970 and the seed of an idea has been planted in the minds of Spokane residents. The idea is a rather outlandish one for a small city the size of Spokane.
Let's put on a World's Fair!!
In the upshot it turned out to be not that outlandish an idea as the city pulled it off and managed to stage a successful World's Fair, the first to be environmentally themed, a theme copied many times thereafter.
The first thing they needed, however, was a place to put it. It was decided to tear out the old railway yards on Havermale Island and site much of the fair there. This also meant doing away with the historic old 1902 Great Northern/Burlington Northern station. Since it was graced with a gorgeous old brick clock tower, the station was razed, but the landmark clock tower was, thankfully, left standing.
After the fair had run its course, the fair grounds were turned into
Riverfront Park, a centrepiece of which is this clock tower, guiding visitors to the park from afar. BTW, the land for the fair and the park was donated to the city by Burlington Northern, which subsequently moved the railway yards further east in the city. As well, the city ultimately killed two birds with one stone as they ended up with a beautiful park situated at the Spokane River and Spokane Falls, where previously had stood dilapidated warehouses, vagrants' abodes and unsightly railway yards. As well as the park, the city enjoyed a new 2,700 seat
Performing Arts Centre and a large and visually striking
Convention Centre.
The Performing Arts Centre - The River - The ClocktowerVisit Instructions:As a suggestion for your visit log, please make every effort to supply a brief-to-detailed note about your experience at the Waymark. If possible also include an image that was taken when you visited the Waymark. Images can be of yourself, a personal Waymarking signature item or just one of general interest that would be of value to others. Sharing your experience helps promote Waymarking and provides a dynamic history of your adventures.