How Spokane became Washington’s coolest city, with a burgeoning wine scene, vintage shopping, and a gorgeous riverfront park.

From left: Courtesy of Spokane Public Library; Courtesy of The Fox Theatre

In 1974 the Worlds Fair had its smallest-ever host: Spokane, Washington.

To prepare for the event, dubbed Expo 74, the city transformed its crumbling downtown railyard, which sat along the banks of the Spokane River, into a 100-acre fairground.

A pair of photos one showing a world’s fair and the other a theater interior.

From left: The grounds of the 1974 World’s Fair in Spokane; inside the city’s Fox Theatre.Credit:From left: Courtesy of Spokane Public Library; Courtesy of The Fox Theatre

The site featured Americas first IMAX theater, a gondola strung over Spokane Falls, and a vintage 1909 Looff Carrousel, among other attractions.

From May to November, some 5.6 million people attended the fair and viewed exhibits from 10 countries, including Australia, which displayed a model of the newly completed Sydney Opera House, and Japan, which built a formal garden on site.

From left: Jason Hummel/Courtesy of Visit Spokane; Christine Tran/Courtesy of Gander & Ryegrass

Nearby is theFox Theatre, a 1931 Art Deco masterpiece that was once a 2,300-seat movie theater and is now home to the Spokane Symphony.

A pair of photos one showing the Spokane Falls and the other a food dish.

From left: The Skyride over Spokane Falls; arugula salad, asparagus with smoked mushroom, and nettle tagliatelle at Gander & Ryegrass.From left: Jason Hummel/Courtesy of Visit Spokane; Christine Tran/Courtesy of Gander & Ryegrass

After taking in a performance, pop in toBarrister Winery, a former auto warehouse that today pours Washington varietals, like Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla Valley.

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For dinner, indulge in a six-course meal atGander & Ryegrass, where chef Peter Froeses Italian-influenced dishes might include kohlrabi risotto or pork with chanterelles.

Or go toIndigenous Eatfor bison tacos, fry bread, and three sisters soup, made with corn, squash, and beans.

The citys vintage scene is similarly diverse.Teleport Vintage & Co.sources horsehide-leather jackets, band and sports T-shirts, denim, camp blankets, and workwear from across the Pacific Northwest, as well as Colombia, England, and France.

They also have a fridge stocked with beer, hard seltzer, and cider, so it’s possible for you to sip while you shop through the eras, in true Spokane style.

A version of this story first appeared in the October 2024 issue ofTravel + Leisureunder the headline “Sparkle City.”