<P> The Davenport Hotel was home to the first commercially licensed radio station in Spokane--KHQ, which signed on the air in 1922 . From its tower on the roof of the hotel, KHQ broadcast the first voices many people pulled from the air across the vast expanses of the Inland Northwest . KHQ featured many local bands, including The Musicaladers . That group's drummer dropped out of Gonzaga University and became world - famous for his singing voice . His name was Harry "Bing" Crosby . KHQ radio remained a strong voice on the air for more than half a century . Both KHQ and The Davenport Hotel went dark in 1985 . </P> <P> Mr. Davenport sold his hotel in 1945, and died in his suite at the hotel in 1951; his wife Verus in 1967 . Each successive owner through the second half of the 20th century took more than they gave to the property . The Davenport Hotel was closed in 1985 and demolition was considered . By the time the Davenport's only son died in 1987, it was generally believed that the Davenport Hotel would be destroyed . A demolition crew determined the entire block could be dropped in 20 seconds but the nightmare of airborne asbestos saved it from implosion . Dismantling and salvage was determined to be too expensive so the hotel remained closed for 15 years . </P> <P> In March 2000, local entrepreneurs Walt & Karen Worthy purchased the entire city block for $6.5 million, then spent the next two years of their lives--and $38 million of their own money--to make The Davenport Hotel grand again . The hotel's public spaces and ballrooms were restored to what they would have looked like when they were new - it is real gold leaf around the fireplace . The hotel's guest floors were taken back to bare concrete and built anew with fresh wiring, plumbing, drywall, furniture and fixtures . The Hall of the Doges, Spokane's oldest and finest ballroom, was removed from the oldest part of the structure and re-installed in the new East addition . The removal was accomplished by lifting the ballroom out intact, making it the only flying ballroom in the world . The Davenport Hotel was re-established in September 2002 with the ringing of a ship's bell eight times signaling a change of the watch . </P> <P> The first fire in the lobby fireplace was lit in September 1914 by Kirtland Cutter . Hotel proprietor Louis Davenport decreed that as a symbol of hospitality . Originally wood burning, the fireplace now burns natural gas . The fireplace is kept burning year - round, as a symbol of hospitality and still following Mr. Davenport's request . The painting above the fireplace depicts the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María - the ships Christopher Columbus used to discover the New World in 1492 . Architecturally, the hotel has elements of Italy, France, England, Spain, and Imperial Russia . </P>

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