Minnehaha Park

Minnehaha Park is a 39-acre public park located at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Havana Street in Spokane, Washington. The land for the park was acquired by the city between 1909 and 1913, though development did not begin until 1924. Prior to becoming a park, the location served various purposes, including as a health spa due to a mineral water spring on the site, and later as a brewery.

The park's history is intertwined with the early development of Spokane. In the late 1890s, it was the summer home of Edgar J. Webster, a local lawyer who discovered the mineral spring and transformed the area into a spa. Later, when the property was beyond the city limits and accessible by streetcar, it gained a reputation as a place for activities that were frowned upon within the city proper.

Minnehaha Park features a mix of landscaped lawns and native vegetation, with its terrain rising along the slopes of Beacon Hill to the northeast. The park serves as a popular spot for casual recreation and also functions as a trailhead for hikers and mountain bikers accessing the rugged trail system on Beacon Hill.

A notable feature of the park is an old stone building, a remnant from its days as a health spa. This structure has become the subject of local lore, with some believing it to be haunted. However, it's important to note that many of these stories, such as claims about an orphanage on the site, are not supported by historical evidence.

Today, Minnehaha Park continues to be a valuable green space for the Spokane community, offering a variety of recreational opportunities and a connection to the area's natural environment.