SPOKANE, Wash. — This year marks 110 years since the Davenport Hotel opened in downtown Spokane.
Now, some new additions are allowing guests to get a glimpse at the history of the hotel in a new way.
The Davenport Hotel is the first in the country to have air conditioning, and management said its founder, Louis Davenport, wanted to give guests a unique sense of comfort compared to other hotels.
"We're trying to combine those historic and modern flares," said Melissa Green, the Vice President and Area Managing Director of the Davenport Hotel.
Green said while guests have been able to enjoy the Peacock Lounge inside the lobby for decades, people will still be able to with a new addition of a hotel lobby bar.
"The lobby bar menu will be truly classic cocktails from the 1910s and 20s. Drinks like a French 75 and classic Manhattans," Green said.
Another new feature the hotel has to offer is a coffee/gift shop known as the Emporium. It will include candy makers onsite both making and selling the Davenport's iconic soft peanut brittle.
"They'll be able to see it, be able to smell it, be able to purchase it right there," Green said.
Green said some people were concerned when hearing about the new additions to the hotel, but she emphasized the history and what makes the hotel iconic will remain the same, while how guests can learn about the history will be the only change.
"I think it's not our job to be able to not just bring this hotel and what it is into the future, but it's also to continue the heritage of what this hotel and what Louie Davenport's vision was," said Green.
Both features opened on Tuesday with a soft opening. A grand opening for both is scheduled for Friday, September 20, at 5 p.m.