Editing Chehalis, Washington (section)

===Historic buildings and sites===
[[File:Vernetta Smith Timberland Library.jpg|thumb|upright|Vernetta Smith Timberland Library]]
[[File:The Chehalis Theater.jpg|thumb|The Chehalis Theater]]

{{see also|History of theaters in Chehalis, Washington}}
The city began a historical commission in the 1980s to honor and recognize buildings in Chehalis for their historical importance as well as preservation efforts. Given the moniker, the Chehalis Historic Preservation Commission, the committee's largest listing was in 2005 with 37 homes recognized; all were located in NRHP districts in the community. Each home or building is given a plaque that lists the original construction date, and may contain dates and names regarding conservation efforts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=VanTuyl |first1=Aaron |title=History repeats itself |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/history-repeats-itself,215772? |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=December 16, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Commission doing well with project to preserve homes |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/commission-doing-well-with-project-to-preserve-homes,230098? |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 21, 2005}}</ref> The commission, in the mid-2000s, was responsible for the beginnings of restoration efforts in the downtown district, specifically programs to improve and revitalize building [[façades]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Facade improvement proving success for downtown Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/facade-improvement-proving-success-for-downtown-chehalis,219243? |access-date=September 27, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=August 19, 2006}}</ref>

The [[Chehalis Downtown Historic District]] was honored with placement on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP) in 1997, notably for its [[Colonial Revival architecture]].<ref>{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/97001407 |website=NPGallery |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=March 8, 2021}}</ref> Two other NRHP district locations [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lewis County, Washington|registered]] within Chehalis include the [[Hillside Historic District (Chehalis, Washington)|Hillside Historic District]] and the [[Pennsylvania Avenue-West Side Historic District]]. NRHP-listed buildings include the [[Chehalis Post Office]], the [[Lewis County Courthouse (Chehalis, Washington)|Lewis County Courthouse]], the county museum once known as the [[Lewis County Historical Society and Museum|Burlington Northern Depot]], the 1920s [[St. Helens Hotel]], and the [[Scout Lodge (Chehalis, Washington)|Troop 373 and 7373 Scout Lodge]]. The homes of [[Jackson House State Park Heritage Site|John R. Jackson]], [[O. B. McFadden House|O.B. McFadden]], and [[O. K. Palmer House|O.K. Palmer]] are also listed with the NRHP.

Other historical buildings include the [[Chehalis Theater]], originally known as the Pix Theater when it was opened in 1938, but renamed in 1954. The building, constructed in 1923, was first home to a Ford car dealership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewistalk.com/2016/12/21/chehalis-theatre-historical-building-lives/|title=The Chehalis Theatre: A Historical Building Lives On|date=December 21, 2016 |publisher=LewisTalk|access-date=September 13, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626121556/https://s0.wp.com/wp-content/js/devicepx-jetpack.js?ver=202125|url-status=live}}</ref> Across from the courthouse sits the Judge Seymour White House, a [[Victorian house]] built in 1904 that was planned for demolition in 1986 after it was deemed a public nuisance. A public outcry saved the home. Given the nickname, "House of Ill Repute", it once was used as a [[brothel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Judge Seymour White House - 1904 |url=https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/visitors/11-judge-seymour-white-house-1904-120-northwest-pacific-avenue |website=City of Chehalis |access-date=June 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=The Chronicle staff |title=Lewis County Dignity Guild's New 'Home Base' Is in Downtown Chehalis |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/lewis-county-dignity-guilds-new-home-base-is-in-downtown-chehalis,320974 |access-date=June 23, 2023 |work=The Chronicle |date=June 16, 2023}}</ref> The 1889 [[Hotel Washington (Chehalis, Washington)|Washington Hotel]] is situated in the downtown district and was restored by a local family in 1997 following a destructive fire. It served as a movie house and vaudeville theater, known as the [[History of theaters in Chehalis, Washington#The Dream Theater (1911)|Dream Theater]], and once hosted the [[Vintage Motorcycle Museum (Chehalis, Washington)|Vintage Motorcycle Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/visitors/32-hotel-washington-%E2%80%93-1889-545-north-market-boulevard|title=Washington Hotel|publisher=City of Chehalis|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-date=October 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017135134/https://www.ci.chehalis.wa.us/visitors/32-hotel-washington-%E2%80%93-1889-545-north-market-boulevard|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Peredina|first=Graham|date=December 1, 2017|url=http://www.chronline.com/news/128-year-old-hotel-washington-vintage-building-sold-in-chehalis/article_a801097e-d727-11e7-96af-138e2a2e3211.html|title=128-Year-Old Hotel Washington|publisher=The Daily Chronicle|access-date=September 13, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626121524/https://www.chronline.com/stories/128-year-old-hotel-washington-vintage-building-sold-in-chehalis,21305|url-status=live}}</ref>

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of [[Ezra Meeker|Ezra Meeker's]] journey on the [[Oregon Trail]], the city, by way of the Lewis County Historical Society, installed an historical marker at city hall. As part of a promise from towns along Meeker's trip to erect markers to honor the trail, Chehalis was one of the last areas to fulfill the obligation. Another marker was subsequently placed at [[Claquato Church]] in the nearby neighborhood of Claquato, the oldest continuously used church in Washington state.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chronicle Staff |title=Roadside sights bring history alive |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/roadside-sights-bring-history-alive,221825? |access-date=July 29, 2022 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 22, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanton |first1=Carrina |title=Chehalis Couple Bringing Services Back to Historic Claquato Church |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/chehalis-couple-bringing-services-back-to-historic-claquato-church,22958? |access-date=December 22, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 6, 2017}}</ref>

The Vernetta Smith Chehalis Timberland Library, built in 2008 as a replacement of the city's 1910 [[Carnegie library]], is operated by the [[Timberland Regional Library]] and named in honor of the mother of former Chehalis resident, [[Orin C. Smith|Orin Smith]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tomtas |first1=Justyna |last2=Schwartz |first2=Eric |title=Person of the Year: Orin Smith Conquered the Business World, Then He Gave Back |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/person-of-the-year-orin-smith-conquered-the-business-world-then-he-gave-back,20381? |access-date=July 9, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=January 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trl.org/locations/chehalis|title=Chehalis Timberland Library|publisher=Timberland Regional Library|access-date=September 13, 2020|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018014701/https://www.trl.org/locations/chehalis|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Haines |first1=Amanda |title=Library Namesake Makes Special Visit |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/library-namesake-makes-special-visit,207370? |access-date=July 9, 2021 |work=The Chronicle |date=October 18, 2007}}</ref>