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"The Childhood Express" 1990, Artist: Ken Spiering, Riverfront Park, Spokane, Washington

Supersized
(1 of 9) (10436 views)

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The Childhood Express sculpture was a supersized, children's red wagon with the words "Radio Flyer" on its side.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:13:20 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0399
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Slide And Stairs
(2 of 9) (6221 views)

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The back of the wagon had stairs leading up into it. The handle was a slide.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:13:21 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0400
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Westley Poised
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Westley was poised to slide down while his grandfather watched from behind.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:13:36 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0401
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Westley Slid
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Westley slid down the slide toward the oversized handle for the wagon.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:13:39 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0403
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Walk Under
(5 of 9) (6246 views)

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Kids could even walk under the wagon on the way back to the stairs from the slide.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:15:21 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0408
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Huge Bolt
(6 of 9) (6187 views)

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A huge bolt connected the wheels to the slide.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:15:29 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0409
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The Sign
(7 of 9) (6169 views)

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A brass sign near the wagon's handle, read in part:

"The Childhood Express"
by Ken Spiering
Summer 1990
A lasting legacy to commemorate the
Washington state centennial
honoring the children of Spokane-
past, present, and future.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:17:52 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0427
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Wagon's Front
(8 of 9) (6231 views)

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A front view of the wagon without people to clutter the art. But note that the garbage cans also give scale.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:18:10 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0429
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Portrait Of Wagon
(9 of 9) (6328 views)

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A portrait of the wagon backed by mature trees and flanked by benches.


The Childhood Express 1990   •  Artist: Ken Spiering external link   •  Riverfront Park external link   •  Spokane, Washington external link   •  (Date Photographed: 11:18:39 Thursday 16 June 2016)   •  (Date Published: Sunday 15 October 2017)   •  © 2017 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #T16_0430
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