Bing Crosby House

Harry Lillis Crosby, known to the world as Bing, grew up in Spokane and attended Gonzaga, and the city still claims him proudly. On the Gonzaga University campus, the Bing Crosby House preserves the home where he lived as a boy and houses memorabilia from his remarkable career as a singer, actor and radio star. Nearby, the university's library holds a large Crosby collection of recordings, awards and personal items, which gives the stop real depth for fans who want more than a photograph in front of a house. Even if you do not know every song, the visit tells a fun Spokane story. Crosby sold millions of records, starred in films such as Holiday Inn and Going My Way and helped define popular music in the twentieth century, and he never forgot the Inland Northwest. The house gives a modest, human scale to a larger-than-life figure, and exhibits show how a Spokane kid became one of the world's most recognizable voices. The campus is pleasant to wander, with brick buildings, tree-lined paths and access to the river and the Centennial Trail.

Because the house is part of a working university, visiting hours can be limited and vary by semester, so check before you go and call ahead if you plan to come with a group. Expect a compact, quick visit of an hour or less, which is the main reason it works well as a pairing rather than a standalone day.

Use it to anchor a walk through Gonzaga's campus, a stop at the Centennial Trail or a bite in the nearby Logan neighborhood. If you are a basketball fan you may also want to see the campus athletic venues, which are among the most famous in college hoops.

The stop suits older travelers who remember Crosby's music, film buffs, couples exploring Spokane's culture and families who want a short, free or low-cost cultural stop. Younger children may be happier at the carousel in Riverfront Park, so balance accordingly. Be respectful of the campus, observe signage and expect that some exhibits are small.

To enhance the visit, listen to a few Crosby songs ahead of time, perhaps White Christmas, which is hard to avoid anyway at the holidays. When you are done, walk along the river toward downtown and enjoy a view that Crosby himself might still recognize.

To round out the stop, ask at the university library about the Crosby collection and whether tours or viewing are available on your day, since policies change. Gonzaga's campus is also home to other points of interest, including a small art museum, a quiet riverside walk and plenty of coffee shops nearby. If you visit during the academic year, be mindful of students and class schedules. The stop is quick but charming, especially paired with a ride or walk on the Centennial Trail.

Crosby fans can build a small theme day around the visit: hear a few songs in the car, pick up a book or record in a local shop, and watch one of his classic films in the evening. The campus is a pleasant place for a casual coffee, and the river walk nearby makes the outing feel complete even if the house itself takes only a short while.