The Railcar that houses Knight’s Diner was built in 1906 by Barney and Smith Co and saw service on the Northern Pacific Railroad as car number 988. The vestibules on either end of the car were designed by the Pullman Car Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and built under license to them.
During World War II the car, which had been retired to the Northern Pacific Yards in Yardley (Spokane Valley), was pressed into service as an indoctrination classroom for the war effort. John (Jack) Knight, formerly the headwaiter at the Davenport Hotel (and the only waiter allowed to serve Louis Davenport his evening meal), renovated the car for use as a diner in 1949.
The Railroad car that houses Knight’s Diner has retained a high degree of integrity since construction in 1906, both while on the rails and its later reuse as a diner. It is significant as both a well-preserved turn of the twentieth century all-wood Railroad Passenger Car and as an outstanding example of an American roadside diner.
Knight's Diner earned a place on Spokane's Register of Historic places in 1991.
2015 is the inaugural year of Spokane GeoTour. This Spokane County tour will send geocachers on a trip through Spokane History, finding caches in areas of historical significance. Visit urban and rural gems, historic farming communities, forts, geological marvels, and seek new adventures. The Spokane History GeoTour rewards those who complete with a commemorative geocoin featuring the native Spokane Salish language.
- Visit Spokane GeoTour to view a list and map of qualifying caches. All caches begin with the series name "SHGT:" followed by a location specific name.
- Be sure to read the challenge rules and print your passport at SpokaneGeoTour.com.
- You must record the cache code word on the passport with the code inside each GeoTour cache to qualify for a geocoin.
The Spokane History GeoTour is sponsored by Spokane County TPA, Cache Advance, and Washington State Geocaching Association (WSGA). We hope you enjoy the tour!
