Self-Guided Visit
Self-Guided Campbell House Tour
Explore the 1898 Tudor Revival mansion room by room at your own pace. Included with museum admission; house tours run Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 4 pm.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Museum / Historical Site
Campbell House (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)
A 1898 Tudor Revival mining-baron mansion in Spokane's Browne's Addition, home to long-circulated murder myths debunked by a documented one-child family history.
2316 W 1st Ave, Spokane, WA 99201
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 4 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Included with regular Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture admission; self-guided house tours run Tuesday–Sunday, noon–4 pm.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Historic 1898 mansion; main floor accessible, upper floors via stairs.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1898 · Designed by Kirtland Kelsey Cutter, Spokane's most prominent Gilded Age architect · Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1974 · Built for Coeur d'Alene silver and lead mining magnate Amasa B. Campbell · Anchor property of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture complex
Amasa B. Campbell (1845–1912) arrived in the Inland Northwest in 1887, sent from Ohio by investors to evaluate mining prospects in Idaho's Coeur d'Alene district. He and partner John A. Finch put $25,000 into the Gem mine; the investment proved highly profitable. Campbell relocated to Spokane in 1898, the same year he commissioned architect Kirtland Kelsey Cutter to design a residence in the fashionable Browne's Addition neighborhood.
Cutter, who was then at the center of Spokane's Gilded Age building boom, designed the house in an Arts and Crafts Revival style that incorporated stucco, sandstone, brick, and heavy timber framing, along with a service wing and carriage house. Campbell died in 1912; his wife Grace remained in the house until her death in December 1924, when their only child Helen Campbell Powell donated the property to the Eastern Washington State Historical Society in her mother's memory.
The house served as a museum space for decades before the adjacent Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture was completed in 1960. A comprehensive restoration project ran from 1984 to 2001, covering interior refurbishment, electrical systems, and the carriage house. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is now operated as an interpretive house museum, open Tuesday through Sunday with self-guided tours from noon to 4 pm, and occasional special programs including seasonal Dark History Tours.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campbell_House_(Spokane,_Washington)
- https://www.northwestmuseum.org/exhibitions/campbell-house/
- https://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/289
- https://properties.historicspokane.org/property/?PropertyID=1739
Elevated EMF readings reported by paranormal investigatorsSensation of being followed through roomsApparent portrait-eye-tracking effect reported by visitors
The Campbell House's reputation in internet ghost-lore circles rests largely on a fabricated murder narrative: that multiple Campbell children were killed inside the house, with one kidnapped and never recovered. This story has circulated extensively on paranormal forums and aggregator sites. It is false. The Campbell family had one child, Helen Campbell Powell (1892–1964), who lived a full life and personally arranged the donation of the house to the historical society.
The museum addressed the myths directly through its Dark History Tour program, which presents the documented Campbell family history alongside an examination of why the false stories gained traction. KHQ News covered the series in 2022, noting that the real history of the family is, in the museum's view, compelling enough on its own.
The paranormal reports that have actually been documented are considerably less dramatic than the murder myth. Author Deborah Cuyle, in her book Ghosts and Legends of Spokane, reported that paranormal investigators recorded high EMF readings in multiple rooms of the house. Visitors and staff have described the sensation of being followed through the rooms and the perception of an unseen presence near the portrait of Amasa Campbell, which some visitors describe as appearing to track movement through the room. No specific identities have been reliably attributed to the phenomena.
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour
Dark History Tour (Seasonal)
Seasonal guided program offered by the museum that examines the real history of the Campbell family alongside the persistent myths that have attached themselves to the house over the decades.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campbell House (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture) family-friendly?
An accredited house museum appropriate for all ages. Ghost lore is mild and the museum actively contextualizes which claims are fabricated. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Campbell House (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture)?
Included with regular Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture admission; self-guided house tours run Tuesday–Sunday, noon–4 pm.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Campbell House (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture) wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Campbell House (Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture) is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Historic 1898 mansion; main floor accessible, upper floors via stairs..