Campbell House in Spokane, WA: Historic mansion & museum tour

Ever wonder what it’d feel like to be a millionaire at the turn of the 20th century? Well you can get a pretty good sense of that in the Campbell House in Spokane, Washington, the gorgeously preserved historic mansion in this Eastern WA city. This home is on the registry of National Historic Places—and it’s part of a museum, so you can get up close and personal with all the turn of the century artifacts!

The Campbell House mansion was built for a silver baron and his family in 1898. You probably can’t afford to have five live-in servants and deck out your tea room in silk and velvet (I know I definitely can’t!), but you can see how the Campbells did just that in this National Historic home.

Luckily for us non-millionaires, the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) preserved the Campbell House in Spokane and opened it up for tours.

So if you’re looking for off the beaten path things to do in Spokane, WA, visit the Campbell House. (Just brush up on your silver baron poses and finishing school manners first!)

Quick history of the Campbell House

The Campbell House in Spokane was built in 1898 for Ohio-born Amasa Campbell, a high school dropout who made his fortune in mining. He hired the architect Kirtland Cutter to build the 13,000-square-foot home for just $30,000, where he lived with his wife, Grace, and daughter, Helen.

The house reflects the traditions of the time’s high social class. One of the mansion’s most stunning spots, the gold-and-pink reception room, was built entirely for Mrs. Campbell to receive visitors in 15-minute time slots. And the game room downstairs—like a 20th century millionaire’s man cave—was the only spot where Mr. Campbell was allowed to gamble and drink, given that his wife was involved in the Temperance movement.

Helen donated the family home to a local historical society in 1924 when she moved to the other side of the Spokane River, where it had become more fashionable to live. The MAC refurbished the home in the 1980s and 1990s, using historic photos and other records to recreate or buy similar furniture, fixtures and even wallpaper.

Tour the Campbell House in Spokane

The Campbell House is next door to the MAC and entry is included when you pay to enter the main museum. That said, you need to take a tour to visit the mansion, and tours are offered on the hour in the afternoons Tuesday through Friday and Sunday. (See full details below.)

My sister and I visited the MAC one recent afternoon not even intending to go into the Campbell House. The folks at the front desk mentioned the tour to us, though, and I’m so glad we took them up on it!

The Campbell House tour begins in the Campbell Carriage House, which formerly held the family’s carriage and, later, an electric automobile. (!!) Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable, answered our many questions and made me laugh throughout the 45-minute tour.

One of the more fascinating parts of the Campbell House tour: the contrast between the family side and the servant side of the house.

Anyone who has watched Downton Abbey understands the concept of the upstairs/downstairs divide. It’s another thing to see that difference firsthand.

The family’s quarters were opulent, breathtaking. Rooms were full of souvenirs from their travels in Europe, expensive furnishings and enough cut crystal to make the whole house sparkle. (Also, is anyone else as obsessed with wallpaper as I am? I felt like such a weirdo oohing and ahhing over the wallpaper in every room!)

In contrast, the servant side of Campbell House was more practical and obviously designed to prioritize the family’s comfort. For example, the very layout of the house enabled servants to clean and take care of the guest bathroom—without using the main hallway or even being seen.

That said, the Campbells seemed fairly kind to the servants. They installed a modern bathroom in the basement so servants wouldn’t have to walk up three flights of stairs to use the facilities, and Mrs. Campbell sometimes acted as chaperone when one of the younger servants had a date!

March of modern times in 1920s Spokane

I didn’t know a lot about Spokane history. But as always, I find I absorb so much more when history is linked to personal stories (like those of the people who lived in the Tenement Museum in New York). Thanks to the Campbell House tour, I learned a ton about Spokane in the early 20th century.

The Campbells built and outfitted their home at a dynamic point in U.S. history. Workers were striking, demanding better pay and conditions. Women agitated for the right to vote. Prohibition outlawed alcohol.

On the Campbell House tour, we witnessed how these cultural changes played out in upper class families. For example, in the Campbells’ daughter’s room, a golf trophy was displayed. Competitive and athletic, young Helen was no prim and proper wallflower!

The Campbell House was also outfitted for modern technologies like electricity and the telephone. Mr. Campbell had private phone lines installed so he could call his business partner and lawyer in the houses next door so he could talk without the risk of a nosy operator listening in!)

Campbell House in Spokane: Details to visit

Campbell House address: 2316 W. 1st Ave. in Spokane, within the Browne’s Addition neighborhood

Admission: Admission for the Campbell House is included with MAC entry: $10 for adults, $5 for children, and children 5 and under are free. AAA members and active military members get $1 off admission. Entry may be more expensive during special exhibitions.

Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday. The MAC museum is closed Mondays, with the exception of some holidays. See the MAC hours page for more details.

Tours: 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Tuesday – Friday and Sunday. Open house 12-4pm Saturdays.

Expect the tour to take about 45 minutes.

Accessibility: The Campbell House tour is not wheelchair- or stroller-friendly. We walked up three flights of stairs, and there is no elevator.

Spokane history at the Campbell House

I’m thrilled my sister and I toured the Campbell House in Spokane. I don’t know much about architecture and am not a history buff, but I still absolutely enjoyed this unique thing to do in Spokane.

My sister has lived in Spokane for almost 10 years altogether and had never visited the Campbell House. (See, it’s a hidden gem even for Spokane residents!) I’m so glad we finally explored this gorgeous historic home in Spokane.

Question: How do you find hidden gems when you travel?