807 W. Sprague Avenue

Statement of Significance

In 1903, he purchased the building and the one directly south and hired Cutter to blend the exterior of the latter to match his restaurant.  He called it "The Pennington" and ran it as an apartment/hotel.  The Hall of Doges was in the building on Sprague, and became the social center for dances and other festive occasions.  In 1909, Davenport announced plans to build a 14-story hotel west of the restaurant/Pennington complex, but it was not until 1912 that work began on the massive project.  All buildings in the block were purchased and demolished except for the Pennington and the restaurant.  K. K. Cutter drew more than one plan before the final selection evolved into the building that we know today as The Davenport Hotel.  The Davenports and Cutter traveled the world to study famous hotels and purchase many of the interior appointments.  A great deal of attention was given to detail and space in the hotel, just as it was given to the service for which the hotel became world famous. As Davenport said, "Every person who registers here is entitled to the best service we are able to render them."  Presidents Taft, Coolidge, Harding, Roosevelt, Hoover, and Ford enjoyed the hotel's amenities.  So did Queen Marie of Romania, Sarah Bernhardt, Colonel Charles Lindbergh, Will Rogers, and many other famous people.

Davenport operated the hotel until 1945, when he sold it.  It has changed hands several times since.  After a long period of vacancy, the hotel was purchased by local businessman Walt Worthy.  After a grand re-opening, with a new Pennington wing, in 2002, the hotel has once again become the centerpiece of downtown Spokane.  

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