St. John’s Cathedral, courtesy Visit Spokane
Groups that enjoy visiting historic churches will find two notable cathedrals in Spokane, both of which are available for tours.
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist is an Episcopal church and is one of the few examples of classical Gothic architecture in the United States. Construction began on the building in 1925, and the first service was held there in 1929. Tours of the cathedral include glimpses of its organ, its 23-bell carillon and its extensive collection of stained-glass windows that depict various biblical stories.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes is the city’s pre-eminent Catholic church. Constructed on the site of the first Catholic church in the area, the cathedral was built between 1903 and 1913. A renovation in 1971 brought a mixture of contemporary architecture with original Italian Romanesque touches, including soaring arches and an Italian marble altar. A set of Bavarian stained-glass windows gives an overview of Judeo-Christian history and tradition.
