Founded in the late 1800s when the Northern Pacific Railroad built a station, Cheney has a rich historical past, and the city's website (cityofcheney.org) suggests exploring some of the old buildings. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, the Central Cheney Historic District is located southeast of the Eastern Washington University campus. The district encompasses the original city area and the city's website lists dozens of historic buildings and corresponding addresses. According to the Cheney Historical Museum (cheneymuseum.org), cattle farmers and homesteaders were the original settlers. Businessmen came to the city soon after because of the opportunities offered by its unique water-fed water system and dense forests.
Like much of the greater area of the state of Washington, Cheney owes many of its geographic features to the Ice Age Flood Period. According to the IAFI, these floods took place at the end of the Ice Age between 18,000 and 13,000 years ago and were the most significant flooding event in history. The Cheney-Spokane Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute (iceagefloodsewa.org) offers educational field trips and various materials for self-guided hikes in the Cheney area.
The city takes pride in being the home of Eastern Washington University (ewu.edu), calling it the "centerpiece of Cheney's academic and cultural environment." The campus rests on 300 acres in a park-like setting. Visit the university's EWU Historic District for a glimpse of early 19th-century buildings and the history behind the university. Check out the college's two theaters; recent productions (2009 and 2010) included "Almost, Maine"; "Romeo and Juliet"; "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"; "Three Days of Rain"; and "Never the Sinner." Visit the EWU Gallery of Art, where exhibitions change monthly and feature works by both students and outside artists. The university is also home to an indoor, year-round swimming pool.
The Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (fws.gov/turnbull) is located just 5 miles south of the city. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes that the 16,000-acre refuge is full of vernal pools and seasonal wetlands. The park is open year round during daylight hours and visitor access is restricted to a 2,200-acre public area. Several fees apply to park usage. Springtime visitors have a good chance of catching a glimpse of a multitude of migratory birds, including Canada geese, ducks, Tundra swans and additional species. Moose, deer, porcupines, beavers, badgers, river otters and 12 species of bats call the refuge home. The park also has a wildlife and fowl-viewing trail.
The Cheney Rodeo (cheneyrodeo.com) hosts a rodeo event in Cheney's Bi-Mart arena. The annual event takes place the second weekend of July. 2011 marked the event's 44th anniversary. The Cheney Rodeo features general public adult bull riding. The rodeo raises awareness for special causes; for example, in 2011 guests wore pink showing support for breast cancer awareness. Late evenings feature dances and Sunday is a so-called "Family Day," on which children between 10 and 12 get a shot at riding a steer. The rodeo website notes that "all riders must wear a cowboy hat or helmet, jeans, a long-sleeved western shirt, and boots."
