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Overview

The social service organization, the Salvation Army, commissioned Spokane architect Archibald Rigg to design this $125,000, three-floor building, to house its headquarters in the Inland Empire. It was completed in 1921.

Building History

The Christian social service group, the Salvation Army, commissioned Spokane architect Archibald G. Rigg, (1878-1959), to design this three-floor brick building for its headquarters just after World War I. The building housed Salvation Army offices and meeting rooms, and the Red Shield Hotel, a single-room-occupancy lodging place for men and boys.

An article of 08/25/1919 in the Spokane Spokesman-Review described the organization of the building: “The first floor will be set aside for two auditoriums, which will be used for assemblies, religious services of the various corps and the conduct of young people’s instruction classes. These auditoriums will be open to the public and returned soldiers and for gatherings authorized by the army officials. The second floor will be the headquarters of all branches of Salvation Army work, including a free clinic and free consulting lawyer—the poor man’s lawyer , a lunch room and other conveniences. The working men’s clubs or hotel, will occupy the third floor, and it will be the policy of the army to furnish comfortable sleeping quarters at a nominal cost. In the basement will be a swimming plunge, shower baths and conveniences for the training of poor children.” Salvation Army Central Service Building, (See “Proposed Salvation Army Central Service Building for Spokane,” Spokane Spokesman-Review, 08/25/1919.)

In later years, Luigi's Italian Restaurant occupied the first-floor space. As noted on the restaurant's Yelp.com page in 2020, the historic bar was brought from another location: "We have one of the original bars which were owned [sic] by Wyatt Earp." (See Yelp.com, "Luigi's Italian Restaurant," accessed 11/04/2020.)