Benewah Milk Bottle, novelty building in Spokane, Washington, USA
The Benewah Milk Bottle is a building shaped like a giant milk bottle, constructed in 1934 in Spokane by the design firm Whitehouse and Price. Originally built to sell dairy products, its unusual form served as an eye-catching advertisement that made the store easy for customers to locate and remember.
The structure was built in 1934 as a dairy product store under the ownership of Paul E. Newport, a well-known creamery operator in the area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, recognizing its importance in American architectural history and local heritage.
The building became a symbol of how Spokane used creative advertising and clever design to catch people's attention. It reflects a time when local businesses made their stores memorable and easy to find through imaginative architecture.
The building is easy to spot because of its distinctive shape and stands near downtown Spokane. Today it houses different shops, including a dessert and ice cream parlor where visitors can walk by, make a purchase, or simply view this historic landmark from the street.
The building was not merely display architecture but a working store where people actually purchased milk and dairy goods. Over the decades it operated as a postcard shop, furniture store, and later as Mary Lou's Ice Cream Parlor, showing how local businesses adapted and reinvented themselves.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
