14 Million Miles: 50 Years of Bloomsday
March 28 - May 3, 2026
This exhibition in the Helen South Alexander Gallery brings together a vibrant collection of commemorative items spanning nearly five decades of the race. Highlights include a finisher T-shirt from each year, a pair of Nike-sponsored Bloomsday running shoes—an unofficial COVID-19-era race T-shirt, and a rich array of photography capturing moments from 1977 to the present. These images reflect the spirit of participants, the energy of spectators, and the evolving landscape of the race route.
The exhibition also features the “Perennial Trophy,” honoring an extraordinary group of runners who have completed Bloomsday for 49 consecutive years. In addition, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view an unofficial poster created by renowned Spokane artist Harold Balazs, produced in independent support of the Bloomsday tradition.
An interactive component, “Share Your Story,” invites visitors to contribute their own Bloomsday memories, creating a collective tribute to one of Spokane’s most cherished community events.
Official Bloomsday Running Shoe, 1987
Nike
Rubber, suede, nylon, foam
Gift of Curt Kinghorn, 1987 (3241.1)
Exhibition created in collaboration with the
Lilac Bloomsday Association
Experience the Legacy, Then Take It Home
Celebrate the opening of The Davenport Legacy with the release of its companion book, Elegance & Ambition: Louis Davenport, Kirtland Cutter, and Spokane at the Turn of the 20th Century. This beautifully illustrated catalogue, written by lead author and editor Lawrence Kreisman with essays by historians Glenn Mason (former executive director of the MAC) and Henry Matthews, offers a deeper look at the artistry, architecture, and vision that shaped Spokane’s most elegant landmark. Available in The Museum Store beginning October 18.