Steam Plant Restaurant
Steam Plant History
About us
One of Spokane’s most prominent skyline features, the Central Steam Heat Plant (“Steam Plant”) is significant for its role in the evolution of the power industry. For 70 years, the Steam Plant provided heating to more than 300 central business district structures from Deaconess Hospital (now Multicare) on the South Hill to retail businesses on the south bank of the Spokane River.
Built in 1916, the Central Steam Heat Plant was made of steel-reinforced concrete and brick, 140 feet long and 83 feet wide. The northeast and northwest corners contain the bases of identical 225-foot tall smokestacks that have graced the Spokane skyline for more than 100 years.
In 1920, Washington Water Power (WWP) acquired the Central Steam Heat Plant, where it continued to supply steam heat till 1986. In 1986, the Steam Plant was closed, because steam heat was no longer a cost effective way to supply heat through downtown Spokane. The last boiler was shut down in December.
In the summer of 1996, ten years after closing, WWP formed Steam Plant Square, LLC-and assembled a bold, yet visionary team that included a Spokane design-build firm specializing in historic renovations. By virtue of creative architectural design and carefully selected demolition, the old plant was transformed into a bright architectural showcase. The development team used the Steam Plant's unique infrastructure in the renovation, saving as much of the original machinery as possible within the guidelines of historic renovation. Four massive steam boilers were converted into restaurant seating, and a water feature. The 1,200-ton coal bunker was transformed into office spaces and remains suspended over the restaurant. One of the Stacks was transformed into a visitors attraction and the other Stack became a piece of our newly added Game Room.
In 2001 the Steam Plant Square was awarded the prestigious National Preservation Honor Award. It was officially nominated to and placed on, the National, Washington, and Spokane Registers of Historical Places. 16 years later, in 2017 the Steam Plant square underwent a $4 million Dollar renovation which included improvements to the kitchen and dining areas as well as adding a Rooftop Event Center.
In 2021 Jerry Dicker, Owner of GVD Commercial Properties Inc., purchased the Steam Plant and reopened it up as we know it today, as The Steam Plant Restaurant and Brew Pub.
GVD Commercial Properties, continues to preserve the history of The Steam Plant. New event spaces keep being added and converted around the industrial beauty of the building. Come enjoy a meal, have a drink, host an event, or tour around our unique and historical building.
Fun Facts
166,770 bricks were used in each 225 foot smoke stack and they were built to sway with the wind. In 1916, the plant produced 150,000 pounds of steam per hour using 12 boilers. By the end of its operation, the plant was producing 370,000 pounds of steam per hour using only the remaining four boilers.
It took 90 employees to run the Steam Plant. Their main job was shoveling coal, especially in the winter months.
Kirtland Cutter was the Architect that designed the outside look of The Steam Plant. He is also known for designing Patrick Clark’s (Patsy Clark) Mansion, The Davenport’s exotic Hall of Doges, the Spokane Club, The Chronicle Building, and the Monroe Bridge. The average coal consumption for the Steam Plant was around 26,000 tons of coal.
The Steam Plant burned coal till 1930, when sawdust was also burned. Coal and sawdust was phased out due to the pollution that was created from burning them. In 1958, three of the boilers were converted to natural gas. Coal was used as recently as 1970, when they converted the last two boilers to natural gas.
The Seehorn building (which is attached to the Steam Plant) is named after Elihu I. “Billy” Seehorn. In 1885, Billy purchased a team of horses and a wagon for $25 and started his own express delivery business. It was known as “Billy Seehorn Storage Transfer Company” and was painted on the side of the building till 1940.