Spokane--A great time was had by all.

We got back yesterday from the Washington State Genealogy Conference. What a wonderful event. It was a quick turnaround after the Family History Expo in Sandy two weekends ago, and then the wedding last weekend but it was worth it.

I finally got to meet Miriam Midkiff. I had been so looking forward to that. And she was just as wonderful in person as she is online. She bent over backwards to help us with a couple of vendor's issues we had. But somehow we never got a picture together. We'll have to try again at the next conference.

But I did bring you a bunch of other pictures. The conference this year it was held in the fabulous Davenport Hotel in Spokane Washington. You can't help but take pictures of that beautiful hotel. There just aren't enough gorgeous historical places like that.

You should see this place. The vendors were up on the balcony above the beautiful victorian lobby. Apparently the Davenport was *the* place to be, having been built on the money coming from the silver mines in Western Montana and Northern Idaho. The balcony was lined with pictures of the glory days--fabulous pictures of turn of the century parties and weddings and etc in this beautiful building. Tons of famous people have stayed there, presidents and celebrities. But it suffered in the 50s, 60s and 70s, eventually closing for many years. Thankfully, Walt and Karen Worthy bought the building, re-opening in 2002 after an incredible restoration project. They restored all of this history and added great technology too. The classrooms were all equipped with huge built in projection screens and the internet was free and fast.

Kudos to the Washington State Genealogical Society. A perfect place to have a genealogy conference.

The kids were having too much fun in the pool to notice the gorgeous Trompe-l'oeil surrounding the room. We let them order room service--creme brulee, french fries and chocolate lava cake--they thought they were in heaven. They loved going on the tram across the waterfall a couple of blocks away, and we all enjoyed going out with Bruce and Laurie Buzbee to some great local resturaunts and walking around the park along the riverfront.

I think I fell in love with the Davenport because it reminded me alot of the Hotel Utah, now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. My High School senior prom was there, and Kim and I had our Wedding Reception there. I don't know if you can see it but the glass ceilings in the lobby are very similar, along with all the turn of the century opulence.
(Dating myself with the hairstyle--oh well.)

Anyway, the conference was wonderful. Thanks to the Washington Genealogy Society. A great time was had by all.