The Spokesman-Review tower

Few people get to visit the tower rooms of the 1891 Review Tower, which was designed by architect Chauncey B. Seaton “to be the most conspicuous building in town.” Seaton designed it in 1890 for the owners of the Spokane Falls Review, Harvey Scott, Henry Pittock and Anthony Cannon, who wanted it to be the tallest building in town, which it was, at 165 feet. The tower, at the corner of Monroe Street and Riverside Avenue, was shaped so that building jutted into the path of Riverside Avenue and appears to sit in the middle of the street, when viewed from the east end of downtown Spokane. The main building, along with the 1983 Spokesman-Review building next door, is seven stories, but the tower rises more than two tall stories above that. The space in the tower, except for one office, is not used for daily business by the owners, the Cowles family.

Section:Gallery

Tue., Nov. 1, 2016

The historic Review Tower stands at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Monroe Street in downtown Spokane. Photographed Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

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One of the clocks on the exterior of the 1891 Review Tower is seen from the tower room Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

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A winding staircase leads from the topmost floor of the Review Tower, where there is a small room with access to the clocks on the exterior of the building through cabinets on the walls. From there, a person can walk into the round tower The main building is seven stories, but the staircase goes up the equivalent of more than nine stories above Riverside Avenue.

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Inside the Review Tower's round room, there are two levels of windows looking west, north and east. A smaller window, in the room outside the tower room, looks south.

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In the round room inside the tower of the Review Tower is a ladder and platform where maintenance workers can crawl out onto the catwalk surrounding the tower more than nine stories above the ground. Workers use the acces to change light bulbs, repair roofing and do other jobs on the 1891 building.

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Inside the 1891 Review Tower's round room, there are two levels of windows looking west, north and east. A smaller window, in the room outside the tower room, looks south.

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Looking south out of the Review Tower uppermost floor is a view of the slate roof line of the building and a view of the Fox Theater. Photographed Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

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A winding staircase leads from the upper floors of the Review Tower to the tower rooms. The main building is seven stories, but the staircase goes up the equivalent of more than nine stories above Riverside Avenue.

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A winding staircase leads from the upper floors of the Review Tower to the tower rooms. The main building is seven stories, but the staircase goes up the equivalent of more than nine stories above Riverside Avenue.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Looking north out of the round tower room at the top of the 1891 Review Tower shows the federal courthouse and Riverside Avenue in Spokane Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Looking north out of the round tower room at the top of the 1891 Review Tower shows the path of Monroe Street, the Spokane Club and the federal courthouse in Spokane Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

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Looking east out of the round tower room at the top of the 1891 Review Tower shows the majority of downtown Spokane Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Looking west out of the round tower room at the top of the 1891 Review Tower shows the majority of downtown Spokane Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review