Editing Centralia, Washington (section)

==Arts and culture==

===Festivals and events===
Centralia has hosted the annual Hub City Car Show since the early 2000s. The one-day event, usually held in late summer, is held in the downtown district, shutting down the main artery through the historic center of the city.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spurr |first1=Kyle |title=Classic Cars to Invade Downtown Centralia |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/classic-cars-to-invade-downtown-centralia,95477 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Warn |first1=Daniel |title=Hub City Car Show Coming Back to Downtown Centralia |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/hub-city-car-show-coming-back-to-downtown-centralia,291089 |access-date=September 5, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 9, 2022}}</ref>

The Centralia Campout is an annual, week-long gathering of folk musicians that takes place between the second and third weekends in August. The campout centers around American [[Old-time music]], played in jam circles round the clock. Attendees engage in daily dances, workshops, and musical fellowship.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leonard |first1=Tara |title=This Week's Arts and Entertainment Guide / Coming Up |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/this-weeks-arts-and-entertainment-guide-coming-up,163239? |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 11, 2011}}</ref>

The Centralia Lighted Tractor Parade has been an annual winter holiday event since 2009. Hosted by the Centralia Downtown Association in early December, the parade begins at Centralia College and traverses through the core downtown district. The festival nominates a local resident, recognized for their contributions to the community, as a [[Grand marshal]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nailon |first1=Jordan |title=10th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade Ready to Roll |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/10th-annual-lighted-christmas-parade-ready-to-roll,6319? |access-date=November 29, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Fourteenth annual Lighted Tractor Parade set for Dec. 9 in Centralia |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/fourteenth-annual-lighted-tractor-parade-set-for-dec-9-in-centralia,329755 |access-date=November 29, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 22, 2023}}</ref>

Girls Night Out is a bi-annual business and shopping event. Begun in 2008, the event supports the downtown economy while raising funds for local charities.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Emily |title=35th Girls Night Out event a success in downtown Centralia |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/35th-girls-night-out-event-a-success-in-downtown-centralia,363153 |access-date=October 14, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 7, 2024}}</ref>

===Historic buildings and sites===
[[File:Centralia Timberland Library.jpg|thumb|Centralia Timberland Library]]
[[File:Centralia Union Depot, interior.jpg|thumb|The interior of Centralia Union Depot]]

The Carnegie Library<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trlib.org/Locations/Pages/LibraryInformation.aspx?lib=ce|title=www.trl.org|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006225154/http://www.trlib.org/Locations/Pages/LibraryInformation.aspx?lib=ce|archive-date=October 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> is located in Washington Park and was originally built in 1913 followed by a remodel in 1977–78. The library is now part of the [[Timberland Regional Library]] system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Centralia Timberland Library {{!}} Timberland Regional Library |url=https://www.trl.org/locations/centralia |access-date=2023-05-23 |website=www.trl.org}}</ref>

[[Centralia Union Depot]] was built in 1912 and features red brick architecture, vintage oak benches, and internal and external woodworking throughout. The renovated depot, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is currently served by [[Amtrak]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Moira Macdonald |author2=Bethany Jean Clement |title=A charming Centralia day trip with our film and food critics |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/a-charming-centralia-day-trip-with-our-movie-and-food-critics/ |access-date=June 6, 2024 |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=May 21, 2024}}</ref>

Located in Fort Borst Park are the Fort Borst blockhouse and the Borst Home. The blockhouse is a log structure that was built in 1856 and was used as grain storage during local wars with Native Americans. Originally constructed near the confluence of the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers, the building was moved twice, in 1915 due to an alteration of the Chehalis River's course, and then in 1922 to its present-day site in the park. Joseph Borst, an [[Oregon Trail]] migrant, purchased the blockhouse from the U.S. government in 1857 and his family would use the building as a residence until he built the Borst Home next to the structure in 1864. The house was constructed near a toll ferry crossing that existed at the time and the home site contains a replicated one-room schoolhouse and a church. The Borst Home, but not the blockhouse, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lewis County, Washington|National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP).<ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Julie |title=Borst Blockhouse Repairs Planned; IWW Plaque Before Council |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/julie-mcdonald-commentary-borst-blockhouse-repairs-planned-iww-plaque-before-council,301022 |access-date=August 3, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>

Centralia is host to various other NRHP sites including the George E. Birge House, the Hubbard Bungalow, and the Wesley Everest Gravesite. The NRHP-listed [[Centralia Downtown Historic District]] is home to McMenamin's [[Olympic Club Hotel]] & Theater<ref>{{cite web|url=http://best.king5.com/olympic-club/biz/580704|title=Best of Western Washington|last=TEGNA|access-date=January 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713152258/http://best.king5.com/olympic-club/biz/580704|archive-date=July 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> a registered historic hotel and restaurant that opened in 1908.

Additional buildings of note include the one-room Salzer Valley Schoolhouse. Situated southeast of the city on a donated land claim from the Salzer family, it was built in 1894 and existed as school until 1944.<ref>{{cite news |title=Salzer Valley folk cherish old school |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-chronicle-jul-10-1999-p-1/ |access-date=April 1, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 10, 1999 |page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McClurg |first1=Dian |title=Life Is a Sweet Adventure for the Bee Team |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/life-is-a-sweet-adventure-for-the-bee-team,187749? |access-date=April 1, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 24, 2009}}</ref>

====Movie Theaters====
The city was once home to the Twin City Drive-In, located immediately north of the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacCraken |first1=Gordon |title=Don't horse around with low lying ground |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/dont-horse-aroundwith-low-lying-ground,220032? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=July 19, 2006}}</ref> It began in 1933 as a single-screen outdoor theater,<ref name="FDTBA"/> with a reopening in 1961 after a transfer of ownership.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fund |first1=Edna |title=Grand Opening Held for Drive-In |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/today-in-history-couple-arrested-for-winlock-arson-in-1911,166945? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> During the 1950s, the outdoor screens were known locally to show risque movies, such as [[Baby Doll]] and the nudist film, [[Garden of Eden (1954 film)|Garden of Eden]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=Shocking! Shocking! |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/excitement-kills-vader-woman-during-fire,211771? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=Nudists at drive-in |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/coal-speculator-buys-up-hanaford-farms-in-1906,216184? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> The [[drive-in]] had a train ride for children on the property; the ride was purchased by a local enthusiast and rebuilt for use at the 2015 fair.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nailon |first1=Jordan |title=King Ag Museum Dedicated to Preserving Machines, Memories |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/king-ag-museum-dedicated-to-preserving-machines-memories,54649? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 26, 2016}}</ref> The premises installed a second screen but eventually the venue fell into disuse and the grounds left to decay. In 2002, a prior resident of Chehalis purchased the neon entrance sign to the drive-in with plans to display it as a highway memorial to graduates from the area; he would donate the sign later to an agriculture museum located in Centralia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=Rusted Neon Glory |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/african-professor-comes-to-centralia-in-2006,212567? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 7, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=King |first1=David |title=King Ag Museum - Twin City Drive-In |url=https://kingagmuseum.com/new-tractors/ |website=King Agriculture Museum |access-date=November 28, 2023 |date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> Damages from windstorms decimated the screens and a fire in 2023, declared to be most likely arson, burned down the remaining building on the property, the ticket booth that also housed the projectors.<ref name="FDTBA">{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Fire destroys ticket booth at closed drive-in theater |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/fire-destroys-ticket-booth-at-closed-drive-in-theater,248020? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 2, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Twin City Drive-In - Photo Gallery |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/43161/photos |website=Cinema Treasures |access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, the theater grounds are mostly bereft of any immediately visible remnants and are covered in brush.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mittge |first1=Brian |title=Outdoor cinema at SWW Fairgrounds draws rave reviews |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/outdoor-cinema-at-sww-fairgrounds-draws-rave-reviews,229061? |access-date=November 28, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 1, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Twin City Drive-In |url=https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/43161 |website=Cinema Treasures |access-date=November 28, 2023}}</ref>

===Music===
[[Seattle]]-based [[rock music|rock]] band [[Harvey Danger]] used Centralia as a [[metaphor]] in its song "Moral Centralia," found on the 2005 album ''[[Little by Little...|Little by Little]]''.

===Public art===
Murals are found throughout historic downtown Centralia. Examples include murals depicting the founder of Centralia (Centerville) named George Washington, Buffalo Bill and his Wild West Show and an abstract mural depicting the 1919 Armistice Day [[Centralia massacre (Washington)|Centralia Massacre]], also known as the Wobbly War.

Centralia is part of the ARTrails of Southwest Washington initiative. The cooperative, begun in 2003, showcases local artists, art studios and galleries throughout the region, and holds an annual autumnal studio tour that incorporates events in smaller towns within Lewis County.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Emerson |first1=Amy |title=Winlock man working to promote local art |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/winlock-man-working-to-promote-local-art,251169? |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 9, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Frazier |first1=Karen |title=ARTrails Seeks to Make Lewis County an Art Destination |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/artrails-seeks-to-make-lewis-county-an-art-destination,94111? |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=September 24, 2013}}</ref> ARTrails opened a gallery for its members in the city in 2015<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomtas |first1=Justuna |title=ARTrails Opens Gallery in Downtown Centralia |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/artrails-opens-gallery-in-downtown-centralia,66948? |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=November 27, 2015}}</ref> and the Centralia Train Depot is used as the nexus of the tour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vander Stoep |first1=Isabel |title=Last Call for ARTrails Studio Tour This Weekend Showcasing Lewis County Artists |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/last-call-for-artrails-studio-tour-this-weekend-showcasing-lewis-county-artists,300263? |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=September 21, 2022}}</ref>

===Theater===
The city has been home to the Evergreen Playhouse since 1959. Beginning as a troupe performance at a ballroom of the local historic Lewis and Clark Building, it raised funds by selling $5 non-redeemable stock to patrons for its first production, ''[[Sabrina Fair]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McClurg |first1=Dian |title=Evergreen Playhouse Turns 50 |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/evergreen-playhouse-turns-50,182197? |access-date=December 7, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=January 14, 2010}}</ref> The organization eventually purchased its own theater in 1972 for $16,000.<ref name="EC60">{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Evergreen Celebrates 60: Saturday Event Includes Tours, Revues and Food Trucks |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/evergreen-celebrates-60-saturday-event-includes-tours-revues-and-food-trucks,7636? |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=September 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Moeller |first1=Bill |title=A Not-So Brief History of Evergreen Playhouse's Ancient Seats |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/bill-moeller-a-not-so-brief-history-of-evergreen-playhouses-ancient-seats,9762? |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> During the [[Covid-19 pandemic]], the 130-seat playhouse underwent a renovation, including removing the original seating, but saved three of the original wood-backed chairs to be used in a display.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Celene |title=Evergreen Playhouse Installs New Seats, Plans for Live Performances |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/evergreen-playhouse-installs-new-seats-plans-for-live-performances,259523? |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=February 17, 2021}}</ref> {{As of|2023}}, the Evergreen Playhouse, a non-profit, volunteer-run theater,<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle Editorial Board |title=Marking Time: Evergreen Turns 50; Mohney 75 |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/marking-time-evergreen-turns-50-mohney-75,182188? |access-date=December 6, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=January 15, 2010}}</ref> has achieved to operate without a financial loss during its entirety, and has remained at the same location near the downtown district on Center Street.<ref name="EC60"/>