European settlers renamed many Washington mountains, too
Some people may assume Mount Spokane was named for the local tribe. That was part of the claim made by the local Chamber of Commerce, when asking the U.S. Geographic Board to officially change the name in 1912.
It would “further perpetuate the name of the Spokane Indians, whom we are advised by old settlers formerly inhabited this mountain and the surrounding region,” wrote C.L. Schuff, who operated the Spokane Washington Improvement Co., a development firm.
Apparently, there weren’t any Spokanes around to advise the chamber. The tribe didn’t call it Mount Spokane, Tribal Chairwoman Carol Evans said. Read more. Jim Camden, SR.
