Editing Centralia, Illinois (section)

== Arts and culture ==
===Centralia Cultural Society===
The Centralia Cultural Society is a community arts center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/centralia-cultural-society/|title=Centralia Cultural Society|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> The center hosts the Centralia Philharmonic Orchestra (an amateur orchestra), the Little Theatre Players, the Choral Society, Bronze Expressions Handbell Ensemble; and periodically hosts galleries by the Light and Lens photography club, and Palette and Brush club, and student art shows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/event/centralia-high-school-art-show-2/|title=Centralia High School Art Show|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref> The Little Theatre Players was established in 1961, and performs plays and musicals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.southernillinoisnow.com/2018/09/21/grease-opens-at-the-centralia-cultural-society-this-weekend/|title=GREASE Opens at the Centralia Cultural Society This Weekend|last=Gullion|first=Toby|date=2018-09-21|website=WJBD-FM|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/event/grease-musical-7/|title=Pinocchio – a kids play|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/event/steel-magnolias/|title=Steel Magnolias|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>

===Local features===
[[File:Centralia Illinois Bell Tower.jpg|thumb|upright|Centralia Bell Tower]]

Foundation Park is the site of the annual Balloon Fest. Recent events have had about forty balloons and drew 40,000 visitors. The Annual Centralia Balloon Festival was the event in which the second "Space Shuttle" hot air balloon crashed and burned due to a fuel line defect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centraliachamber.com/balloon-fest|title=Centralia Balloon Fest|website=The Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref>

Foundation Park also hosts the Fantasy of Lights drive-through holiday light display during November and December.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/fantasy-of-lights/|title=Fantasy of Lights|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>

In addition to Foundation Park, the Centralia Foundation supports the Centralia Carillon. Completed in 1983, with 65 [[bell]]s, the [[carillon]] is ranked as the eighth-largest in the world. The largest bell, Great Tom, weighs {{frac|5|1|2}} tons. Currently, the tower is under renovation and looking for a carillonneur.

One of only two remaining 2500-class steam locomotives from the Illinois Central Railroad is preserved on static display at Centralia's Fairview Park. The Age of Steam Memorial non-profit organization maintains the locomotive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ageofsteammemorial.org/|title=Age of Steam Memorial - IC 2500 Steam Locomotive|website=ageofsteammemorial.org|access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> A 9415 caboose and a rare [[Republic F-105 Thunderchief]] aircraft are also on display in the park.<ref name="Fairview Park"/>

[[File:Centralia, Illinois public library.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Two-story brick building.|Centralia Public Library]]

===Historic downtown===

Centralia's downtown features historic architecture and has seen recent development, including the addition of a Splash Pad near the Centralia Carillon.

===Commercial Historic District===
In 2012, the [[Centralia Commercial Historic District|downtown area of Centralia]] was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893596|title=Illinois SP Centralia Commercial Historic District|last=Department of the Interior. National Park Service. (3/2/1934 - )|date=2013–2017|series=File Unit: National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks Program Records: Illinois, 1964 - 2013}}</ref> Notable historic buildings include the former Langenfeld Hotel, Centralia House restaurant, Old National Bank buildings, Sadler Opera House, Centralia Sentinel Building, and the Illinois Theater.

The Langenfeld Hotel was "established in 1912 by John Langenfield" and "became the premier hotel in the area."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/18555|title=Langenfeld Hotel · Chronicling Illinois|website=alplm-cdi.com|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref> Images of the Langenfield Hotel have been used for postcards featuring Centralia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/il-centralia-litho-1913-langenfeld-1627441058|title=IL Centralia LITHO 1913 LANGENFELD HOTEL & Dirt Street Scene No.32400 {{!}} #1627441058|website=Worthpoint|language=en|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref> The name Langenfield was also connected to the historic Langenfield Motor Company buildings.

The [[Sentinel Building (Centralia, Illinois)|Centralia Sentinel Building]] houses the Centralia Morning Sentinel newspaper<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/13/738/1877|title=Centralia Morning Sentinel newspaper in Centralia Illinois - MondoTimes.com|website=www.mondotimes.com|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref> and features [[Egyptian Revival architecture|Egyptian Revival]] style architecture. This may be connected to Southern Illinois' nickname of "Egypt," or "Little Egypt."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.illinoishistory.com/egypt.htm|title=Egypt|website=www.illinoishistory.com|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref>

The Illinois Theater in downtown Centralia used to be a vaudeville and movie theater and is currently undergoing renovations that will enable it to seat 500 and hold professional entertainment performances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seecentralia.com/illinois-theatre/|title=Illinois Theatre|website=See Centralia, Illinois|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref>

=== The Centralia Area Historical Museum ===
The Centralia Area Historical Museum is free and contains three stories of photographs and artifacts from Centralia's extensive history as a major railway hub and mining town. The museum accepts items either as donations or through loans. In addition to the displays, the museum also contains the George Ross Library, which holds city history books, newspapers, periodicals, family histories, and genealogies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centraliahistory.org/about/|title=About Us|date=2018-11-07|website=Centralia Area Historical Museum|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centraliahistory.org/library/|title=George Ross Library|date=2018-11-09|website=Centralia Area Historical Museum|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>