Eratigena

Hi.yes, they call these giant house spiders because they are not so small.
Yours is a female, I have seen the scrawny males with legs getting to 4 inches across.
Really about as harmless as spiders come though, one of few they let children hold at bug fairs.
These are back to Eraigena duellica for the western sort. E.atrica up around the great lakes region.
This young lady can tell you about her spider:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxNpitlKc_s