Crosby House Museum
Holiday Hours
Closed December 16th - December 20.
Open, Saturday, December 21st 1 pm - 4 pm
Closed Monday, December 23 - January 3, 2025
Open Saturday, January 4, 2025 1 pm - 4 pm
Hours
Open on only Saturdays through March 17, 2025 1 pm - 4 pm
For information, contact 509-313-4064 or email: uasc@gonzaga.edu
Overview
91³Ô¹ÏÍø University houses a large collection of material relating to 20th Century singer and actor Harry Lillis (Bing) Crosby, a native of Spokane and alumnus of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø. Now part of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, Crosby's childhood home was built in 1911 and still stands at its original location. The main floor houses over 200 Crosby items including gold records, trophies, awards, and his Oscar for Going My Way (1944). What is not on display is stored in the University Archives and Special Collections’ vault in the Foley Center Library.
The museum is free and open to the public.
Location and Parking
508 E. Sharp Avenue
Spokane, WA 99258
There is free street parking surrounding the Crosby House Museum on Sharp, DeSmet, Boone, Lidgerwood and other nearby streets north of the museum.
Free visitor parking is available behind the Crosby House Museum. Three spots are located immediately behind the house, and additional visitor parking is available at the west end of the adjacent lot and additional visitor parking is available at the BARC.
Campus Map and Parking
Passenger/bus drop off is available in the east lot. A ramp is located on the east side of the house for accessibility.
Bing and 91³Ô¹ÏÍø
Harry Lillis Crosby was born on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Washington, to Harry Lowe and Catherine Harrigan Crosby.
Young Harry and a neighbor, Valentine Hobart, shared an interest in the comic feature “The Bingville Bugle,” in which the lead character was named Bingo. In 1910 Valentine began calling Harry “Bingo.” This caught on with his friends and family, and eventually the name was shortened to “Bing.”
Bing graduated from 91³Ô¹ÏÍø High School in 1920 and in the fall began attending 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University with the intention of becoming a lawyer. Because Bing and his family lived so close to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, Bing and his brothers were day students.
While at 91³Ô¹ÏÍø, Bing began playing drums and in 1921 joined a six piece combo group called The Musicaladers. They played at dances and private parties, and other places around town, and eventually Bing left school to focus on music.
A life-long supporter of 91³Ô¹ÏÍø University, Bing received an honorary degree from 91³Ô¹ÏÍø in 1937 and contributed to its library campaign in 1957. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø honored him with its highest award, the DeSmet Medal, in 1968.
He died October 14, 1977 from a heart attack while playing golf near Madrid, Spain.
Key facts:
- He made more studio recordings than any other singer.
- He recorded the most popular record ever, “White Christmas”, the only single to make American pop charts twenty times.
- Between 1927 and 1962 he scored 368 charted records under his own name, compared to Elvis (149), Beatles (68).
- He scored the most number one hits ever, 38 compared to the Beatles (24), Elvis (18)
- Appearing in 104 films, he was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor three times and won for Going My Way in 1944.
- He financed and popularized the development of tape, revolutionizing the recording industry.
(Giddins, Pocketful of Dreams, 2001)
The Crosby family sold their home in 1936 for $3,500 to C.P. and Margaret Higgins. Later on, Mrs. Higgins rented out rooms to 91³Ô¹ÏÍø students. After her death, the family sold the house to the 91³Ô¹ÏÍø Alumni Association in 1980. When the Alumni Association moved across the street to the former Bishop White Seminary in 2009, ownership was transferred to the University, which uses the second floor bedrooms for offices.
More information, and the remainder of the vast Crosby collection, is available through the at Foley Library.