A few different older ways Spokane signs its streets. The block number being on the blade is unusual in the 3rd photo. The last two are on Lincoln Ave. NB and Monroe St. SB, respectively.


This railroad overpass is also on Monroe St. SB. The elevated tracks through downtown opened in 1915.


The sign is on Broadway WB by Spokane County Courthouse, and the hydrant is along Washington St. just north of the Spokane River.


Let's start the bridge portion of our tour at the north end of the North Suspension Bridge, built in 1974 across Upper Falls for the Expo '74 world's fair. Yup, Spokane is a world city.


Looking north across the same bridge from Canada Island.


One westward and two eastward photos from the bridge. The Post Street Bridge is west and the Howard Street North Channel Bridge is east. Which way should I head?


Why don't we head... south, to the very similar South Suspension Bridge off of the island. Both of the bridges have a strange shape to the suspension cables, brought about by horizontal separators because the cables run to the same point on the pier.


Looking back north from Riverfront Park to Canada Island.


From here, the Post St. Bridge is again to the west, since the channels all merge by that point, while the Howard St. Mid-Channel Bridge is now the one to the east. That one looks pretty interesting, so let's check that out next.


Alright, the 1916 Howard St. Mid-Channel Bridge, unique in that every other reference to the Spokane River calls it the "Middle Channel." It was closed in 1974 for the Expo and just never reopened, preserving Riverfront Park and Canada Island for recreational use only.


Looking back south across the bridge.


Since this is the easternmost of the interesting bridges I visited, you only get westward photos from here. The South Suspension Bridge is in the foreground, with the Post and Monroe Street Bridges behind it. Where shall we go next?


First, let's leave Canada Island on the Howard Street North Channel Bridge, here seen walking east along the river. It dates to 1909, several years older than the Mid-Channel Bridge, closed in 1974 as well.


Looking south along the bridge, from where you can see the Mid-Channel Bridge ahead, then looking west toward the North Suspension Bridge.


The 1911 Post St. Bridge is unremarkable from the top, so the side views from other bridges are all I really have for you on this page.


Looking east from the bridge toward the channel split, with closeups of the two North Channel and Middle Channel Bridges already featured on this page.


The other thing the Post Bridge is good for is a closeup of a similar but even grander arch bridge, the 1917 Monroe St. Bridge to the west. It was the longest concrete arch bridge in the United States and 3rd longest in the world when it opened, at least according to Wikipedia and whatever sources I didn't verify. Enjoy its architectural details and see the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes above its left (south) pier.


The walking path on the north shore of the Spokane River takes me under the bridge, where I can admire its grand archwork from unique angles.


Some more of the Post St. arch from there, heading back east to my car.

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