Mount Spokane State Park - Spokane County Highpoint

In 1922, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce had an architectural firm contracted to secure data for the erection of a proposed lookout building at the mountain top. It was expected that all labor, material and plans will be paid for by civic organizations. Once the snow melted, they would get the information and begin to draw up plans. (It is not known yet what happened to this idea).

In 1931, there was fire protection provided at times by the state forestry board, with two deputy state fire wardens patrolling the mountain road and trails.

In 1932, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce asked for the assistance of the State in establishing a forest fire lookout station atop Mount Spokane. The United States forest service had made a lookout building available to them, on condition that a man be placed in charge during the fire season. The president of the Chamber of Commerce said the area that can be covered by such a lookout is immense and no other location in this territory is as practical as the site on Mount Spokane. He also said their investigation leads them to believe it would cost the state department very little and that a man could be hired and short wave radio communication with Fort Wright established. By late August, there was a dedication to the fire protection lookout house on top of Mount Spokane, an event attended jointly by the state and federal fire services with several top regional officials speaking. A feature of the event was the luncheon, the crowd being given a regular serving of field rations such as are served to fire fighters. The meal consisted of soup, baked ham and sweet potatoes, garden peas, Washington plums, coffee and lemonade.

In 1933, the Spokane Daily Chronicle reported that although the first year (1932) the lookout was maintained by the federal government on top of Mount Spokane, they did not believe that the lookout will be kept up in 1933.

In 1934, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the Vista House at the highest point using native stone found on the summit. An observation area was built on the second level at the north end of the building. There was no phone, radio or telegraph to the vista house or the lookout house. Several possible methods of obtaining telephone communication were discussed by the Chamber of Commerce. (See Ron Kemnow website for details)

In 1937, the lookout was George H. Walberg, age 22. For two days and nights he went without a wink of sleep. The fierce blasts of lightning crashing into timber within the range lookout post, gave the young man plenty to do. He telephoned in the location of four fires in his area, while lightning crashed overhead.

In 1941, state radio technician R.M. Fuller installed a stationary two-way radio set.

In 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hughes spend the summer on top as the lookouts.

In 1947, a road to the lookout site at Mt. Spokane was cleared and constructed before winter set in, so that the new installation can be completed in the spring before the 1948 fire season.

In 1948, a new lookout was built by the Washington State Park Board and State Division of Forestry. This lookout was an 83-foot high ring connected creosoted wooden tower with a 14 x14 foot R-6 live-in cab. The tower was five panels high. Because of the large number of visitors to Mt. Spokane State Park, an effort was made to make this an especially attractive lookout.

In 1949, around February 15, the tower fell down the first winter due to a severe storm and ice overload. A wind velocity of 72 M.P.H. was recorded at Galena Airport near Spokane during this time. A few weeks prior, a horizontal projection of snow and ice extended 22 feet out from the cab was noted by skiers. A crew went to the tower to remove the snow and ice but it had fallen off.

In 1950, a replacement structure was a 45-foot pole tower with 14x14 foot L-4 cab. The lookouts were Mr. and Mrs. Blake of Deer Park.

In 1960, the lookout Ciri Hansen, a 20-year-old Walla Walla college student from Spokane.

In 1963, a fourth structure built was a 40-foot DNR live-in tower. The DNR Biennial Report called it a replacement lookout tower)

In 1979, a fifth structure was another 40-foot DNR live-in tower. This last tower was staffed until 1994, dismantled in 2001 and placed on top of Quartz Mountain in 2004 (see link above).

Mt. Spokane is said to hold the record for more reported wildfires than any of the other fire lookouts in Washington. Looking at the history of Mount Spokane, I see continuous use of the south summit with 5 structures. No mention or evidence have I found using the Vista House on the north summit. Clearly the Vista House has a cupola type structure so maybe the idea was to have something to see north better. The cupola is at the north end of the vista house building so that makes sense. We shall see, I am sure there are docs explaining the purpose of its construction.

Mount Spokane - Vista House & Former Sites