It's difficult for those of us who didn't experience Expo '74 to fathom its impact on Spokane and the Inland Northwest as a whole. 

But as we approach the 50th anniversary of the World's Fair, for which Spokane's Riverfront Park was created and city's core was forever altered, it's easy to see we're still benefitting, to a large degree, from the Herculean effort that brought the global event to the Lilac City way back when. 

As the community prepares to celebrate the past, one can't help but wonder what the next such effort for Spokane might look like. Will it be an international event? Or are we just better now at bringing a steady string of attention to the Inland Northwest?

These will be good questions to ponder as we prepare for the months-long series of celebrations. Until then, enjoy the front-page story on the expectations for the anniversary. And as always, thank you for reading the Journal.