From Ugly Tracks and Trains to a World’s Fair, and Today’s Iconic City Park: Urban Revitalization, Archaeology, and Influencing Positive Perceptions of Industrial Heritage at Spokane’s Riverfront Park

Summary

Riverfront Park has come to be a symbol of environmentalism for Spokane, Washington as the site of an iconic park originating out of urban renewal efforts that culminated into the site of the 1974 World’s Fair Expo. As would be expected, much of this park’s history is steeped in the act of transforming urban decay into a "natural oasis." Subsequently, over the last forty years, recognition or appreciation for this location’s history as Spokane’s initial townsite has declined. With this in mind, various forms of public outreach were developed while conducting a CRM archaeological survey—in support of upgrades to Spokane’s Riverfront Park—and aimed at influencing positive perceptions of the park’s industrial heritage. This paper explores changing values of urban landscape, effects on a community’s collective memory, and how archaeology can play a role in enhancing industrial heritage.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Post-industrial Landscapes, Communities, and Heritage   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

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PaperId(s): 448