Spokane History – Children of the Sun
Spokane – An Indian word meaning “Children of the Sun” or “Sun People”. The history of Spokane probably started in 1810, with the building of the fur trading post at Spokane House (where the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers meet) under the direction of David Thompson, explorer for the Canadian’s North West Trading Company. With accessibility to the Columbia River and thus the Pacific Ocean, it was the ideal trade center for the transport of furs in the region. In 1812, an American company (Pacific Fur Company) built a competitive post nearby, but the threat of war caused a short …