Short List of Historic Places

DRAFT--This page is a draft. It is incomplete, not proof read and may contain research notes

Historic places and things within a short drive of Reardan (in order of time).

• 1811 Spokane House established at the mouth of the Little Spokane River by the Northwest Company of Montreal.
• 1838 Tshimakain Mission established near Ford. First white children born and first book published in Pacific Northwest.
• 1853 Camp Washington on the Coulee Hite Road established as the first Capitol of Washington Territory.
• 1858 Battle of Pine Creek (or Battle of Steptoe Butte) US forces were over powered by Indians led by Yakima Chief Kamiahkin.
• 1858 Battle of Four Lakes US forces under Col. George Wright defeated Indian forces.
• 1858 Battle of Spokane Plains again US forces defeated Indian forces.
• 1860 Establishment of a ferry crossing for the Walla Walla-Colville Military Road at winding ford on the Spokane River about two miles above Long Lake Dam. This the first permanent settlement in Spokane county. The crossing is replaced with a toll bridge that became known as the LaPray Bridge which was used until flooded by the reservoir behind Long Lake Dam.
• 1878, first homesteaders arrive.
• 1881 Northern Pacific is open to Spokan Falls, enabling easier settlement
• 1882 Establishment of Capps Station post office on the Spokan Falls-Post Spokane (Fort Spokane) stage route about 1 mile north of Reardan.
• 1882 Fairweather was platted.
• 1888 Branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad reaches Reardan.
• 1889 Reardan was platted.
• 1910 Little Falls Dam completed with the largest turbines in production (along with the power station at Niagara Falls).
• 1915 Long Lake Dam completed as the highest spillway dam in the world. First use of steel towers for electric transmission.
• 1940 Grand Coulee Dam completed as the largest dam in the word. It was upgraded in 1972 with the third powerhouse to regain that title.
• 1959-1969 Nike Bases to protect Fairchild AFB were active at Deep Creek, Medical Lake, Cheney, and Airway Heights. Two were retrofited to have nuclear warheads.
• 1961-1965 Reardan Atlas E missile site were active with an intercontinental thermal nuclear warhead.

DRAFT--This page is a draft. It is incomplete, not proof read and may contain research notes