January 14, 2020

The Circus Came to Town – and Never Left!

Enjoy the whimsical decor of our unique Circus Room. This guest-favorite room, #708, is the only surviving original guestroom in The Historic Davenport Hotel. It is identified as a “sample room” in the original blueprints, in which it is located near the freight and service elevators. Recognized for its architectural significance, it is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The room as well as other sample rooms was over-sized with an extra wide door to allow for easy loading and unloading of salesman’s sample cases. It was sparsely equipped with a washroom and coat closet and void of furniture. Over time, salesman made fewer calls for sample rooms, and in 1935, it was converted to host parties and painted in the theme of a ‘Circus Room’ by A. Rutgers VanderLoeff and associates for a special purpose – to welcome Mr. Davenport’s childhood friend, Harper Joy, to Spokane and to

celebrate his retirement from the Ringling Brothers Circus – as a clown.

All of the characters in the Circus Room are friends and contemporaries of Mr. Joy, including at the head of the parade, Fred Bradna, the Equestrian Director and Ringleader of the Circus (Harper’s boss). On the north wall, Buffalo Bill Cody, and near the window,

Louis Davenport himself. During the 2000-2002 restoration of The Davenport Hotel, new owners, Walt and Karen Worthy’s figures were added to the mural.

The Circus Room is now furnished with 2 King Beds and a bathroom with a shower. Experience the circus as you have never seen before…

 

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