Entry No. 6 — the Spokane file — filed under: haunted
The Historic Davenport Hotel
Built by entrepreneur Louis Davenport after the Great Fire of 1889, this opulent 1914 hotel is anchored by a real tragedy: on August 18, 1920, New York widow Ellen McNamara stepped onto the glass panels of the lobby's pagoda skylight and fell to her death. For decades night-shift staff and guests have reported a woman in 1920s dress peering over the mezzanine railing toward the lobby below. The hotel's own communications director has gone on record about the recurring sightings.
The story
Louis Davenport built his namesake hotel in 1914 in the wake of Spokane's catastrophic 1889 fire, aiming for pure, unapologetic grandeur. But the place secured its stranger reputation six years later on August 18, 1920. That evening, Ellen McNamara—a visiting widow from New York—stepped onto the glass panels of the lobby's overhead pagoda skylight and plunged directly to the floor below.
Ever since, the mezzanine overlooking the main hall has had a quiet, permanent watcher. For decades, night-shift staff and late-night wanderers have reported a woman in 1920s dress leaning over the marble railing, staring down toward the spot where she landed. You don't even have to whisper about it behind management's back—the hotel's own communications director went on record confirming the recurring encounters.
What it's like
Walk right through the Post Street entrance—you don't need a key card or a room reservation to explore the public areas. Head up to the marble mezzanine and walk the upper perimeter to get a direct view down into the lobby below. Weeknights late in the evening offer the quietest atmosphere for spending time along the railing. If you want a drink while you keep watch, grab a cocktail at the Peacock Room on the ground floor before heading back up to the balustrade.
The move: Order cocktails in the Peacock Room and then wander up to the marble mezzanine to look for the woman who watches the lobby.
📍 Before you go It's a working luxury hotel; the lobby, mezzanine and Peacock Room are open to the public without a room booking.
- 📍 Downtown Spokane
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 10 S Post St, Spokane, WA 99201
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Peacock Room Lounge — Order a drink under the massive stained-glass ceiling located right inside the hotel before taking your post on the mezzanine upstairs.
- Bing Crosby Theater (formerly The Met) — Walk a block over to this 1915 venue to explore another piece of early-20th-century downtown history.
- Petunia & Loomis — Head three blocks north to Howard Street for taxidermy and strange specimens if you want to keep the eerie theme going.
- Spokane Ghost Tours (Two Dog City Tours / Chet Caskey) — Follow up your hotel visit with local historian Chet Caskey's downtown walking tour to hear wider supernatural lore across the neighborhood.
Good to know
Do you need a room booking to look for the ghost?
No. The lobby, marble mezzanine, and Peacock Room Lounge are open to the public without a hotel room reservation.
What is the origin of the hotel's haunted history?
On August 18, 1920, New York widow Ellen McNamara fell to her death through the glass panels of the lobby's pagoda skylight.
Has the hotel officially acknowledged the hauntings?
Yes. The hotel's communications director has publicly confirmed the long-standing, recurring sightings reported by staff and guests.
Where is the Davenport located?
It sits at 10 S Post St in Downtown Spokane.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: spokesman.com · marriott.com · Only In Your State
last checked: 2026-06-24