Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1877 | 2 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 110 |
| 1884 | 44 |
| 1885 | 1 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 2 |
| 1889 | 24 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1891 | 12 |
| 1892 | 57 |
| 1893 | 40 |
| 1894 | 41 |
| 1895 | 35 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1898 | 12 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1900 | 4 |
| 1902 | 19 |
| 1903 | 77 |
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1905 | 3 |
| 1907 | 3 |
| 1908 | 16 |
| 1909 | 33 |
| 1910 | 16 |
| 1911 | 1 |
| 1912 | 3 |
| 1914 | 5 |
| 1915 | 2 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1917 | 8 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1925 | 1 |
110 stories
- A Brutal Attack on a Prisoner
An Indigenous man held in the Spokane jail is shot through the bars by an unknown assailant in a cowardly act of violence.
- The Wild West at the N.P. Hotel
A young man, fueled by a 'periodic drunk,' terrorizes a hotel proprietor with a revolver in downtown Spokane.
- The Price of a Homeland: One Cow, One Wagon, One Plough
Chief Moses and his delegation come home through Spokane Falls with the government's terms in hand: surrender the country, remove to the Colville reservation, and be paid out in oxen, harness and farm tools.
- A Violent Brawl Over a 'Too Muchly' Married Man
Two women engaged in a public, physical altercation on Main Street, drawing a crowd and ending in a wild, gun-toting pursuit.
- The Indian Scare That Wasn't
A rumor that Little Spokane Indians planned to burn out settlers sent twenty-two armed Spokane men rushing to Four Mile Prairie—where they found frightened neighbors and a land dispute, not an attack.
- The Night Fire Nearly Took Browne's New Brick Block
A stove left burning in a plaster-drying room set Spokane Falls' finest new brick building alight — and the town had nothing but buckets to fight it with.
- Spokane Editor Grudgingly Concedes Women the Ballot — and Fears for Their Womanhood
Washington Territory's 1883 suffrage bill passes the legislature, and the Spokane Falls Review's editor can't decide whether to congratulate women or mourn the loss of their 'sphere.'
- Tragedy at the Falls
A young woman is found dead near the Spokane River following a flash flood.
- Spokane’s Vision for a Riverfront Drive
City boosters propose a scenic four-mile carriage road along the Spokane River to showcase the falls and surrounding wilderness.
- The Cheney War Scare
A false alarm regarding an Indigenous uprising sends the town of Cheney into a panicked frenzy.
- The Sting Operation at Squier’s Saloon
A Spokane businessman orchestrates a trap to catch a man selling liquor to local Indigenous people.
- A Violent Land Dispute on the Little Spokane
A settler’s attempt to harvest hay on his newly acquired land leads to an armed confrontation with local Indigenous claimants.
- When General Sherman Told Spokane Falls It Would Be a Great City
The Civil War hero arrived with Generals Miles and Tidball, drew a packed house at Canaan's Hall, and told the young town its water power could make it another Minneapolis.
- The Grave Robbers of Spokane Falls
A quiet cemetery south of town is disturbed by a bizarre act of desecration, leaving a grieving family and a mystified community.
- A Blanket Theft, a Brutal Assault, and No Arrests in 1883 Spokane
Two Native American men attacked a Chinese camp over a blanket. The injured man was left in the care of his countrymen, and the attackers vanished.
- Spokane Falls Denounces the Legislator Who Would Keep the County Whole
At Cannon's Hall, citizens passed resolutions demanding that the Territorial Legislature ignore Jacob Stitzel and split Spokane County in two.
- Spokane's Date with Destiny: Welcoming the Northern Pacific Railroad
The completion of the transcontinental line brings Henry Villard and hundreds of guests to Spokane Falls, promising a new era of growth and connection.
- Spokane Wins the Land Office
After a desperate struggle against rival towns, Spokane Falls secures the U.S. Land Office, cementing its status as the region's rising metropolis.
- Chief Moses and the Stolen Reservation
A Spokane Indian leader bypasses federal agents to protest a land grab in Washington Territory.
- Railroad Monopoly Tightens Grip on Lumber
A newly formed 'Improvement Company' linked to the Northern Pacific Railroad establishes a monopoly over regional lumber trade.
- The Ghost of Octavia
In a small cabin near Spokane, a widower finds comfort in a persistent, loving vision of his long-dead wife.
- A Tragic Railroad Accident
A young man loses both feet after falling between train cars while riding illegally.
- The Unannounced Arrival of the Bank Examiner
A federal official arrives in Spokane Falls to audit the First National Bank, finding the institution in 'flourishing condition' despite the lack of a reception committee.
- The Death of Belle Lincoln
A woman dies after being found severely beaten in a remote area, highlighting the vulnerability of marginalized people in the frontier.
- The Battle for the Land Office
Spokane Falls and Cheney trade barbs over the relocation of the federal land office, a prize that signifies the region's future growth.