Editing Rainier, Washington (section)

==Arts and culture==

===Art===
To the northeast of downtown Rainier on a trestle support over [[Washington State Route 507]] is a mural known as the ''Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Mural''. Norton, who died in 2006 during the [[Iraq War]], was a graduate of Rainier High School.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Broadt |first1=Lisa |title=Soldier's Memorial Mural Restored by Tenino Artists |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/soldiers-memorial-mural-restored-by-tenino-artists,95707? |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[The Chronicle (Centralia, Washington)|The Chronicle]] |date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> Installed in 2011, repeated vandalism of the mural had led to several repairs and re-paintings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wyble |first1=Steven |title=Memorial to Fallen Soldier Vandalized Twice in Two Days |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/memorial-to-fallen-soldier-vandalized-twice-in-two-days,85408 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=April 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=KING 5 staff |title=Vandalism at memorial like a 'punch in the gut' for soldier's family |url=https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/vandalism-at-memorial-like-a-punch-in-the-gut-for-soldiers-family/281-330711130 |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[KING-TV|KING 5 News (Seattle)]] |date=September 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarty |first1=Kevin |title=Man who painted 'war criminal' on veteran's memorial will not be charged |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/man-who-painted-war-criminal-veteran-memorial-will-not-charged/yKolaNowpKEaeDpDJjHICP/ |access-date=June 25, 2024 |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |date=April 10, 2014}}</ref>

===Festivals and events===
Rainier hosts several annual events including two in August, the Rainier Roundup Days that includes a community [[parade]] and a [[bluegrass music]] festival,<ref name=Roundup /><ref name=Bluegrass /> and the Rainier Community & Alumni Celebration honoring all past and present residents of Rainier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/CandA.html |title=Rainier Community & Alumni Celebration August 7 & 8, 2010 |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> The community regularly hosts [[Relay for Life]], during which, over an 18-hour time frame, participants walk around the [[Rainier High School (Washington)|high school track]] to raise money for the [[American Cancer Society]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Huey |first=Tyler |date=July 2, 2010 |title=Relay for Life is July 10–11 at Rainier High School track. |work=[[Nisqually Valley News]] |at=Section C}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=25128 |title=2010 Relay For Life of SE Thurston WA |publisher=American Cancer Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref>

===Historical buildings and sites===
[[File:1915 Historic Schoolhouse.JPG|thumb|left|alt=A grade school from 1915 converted to a community center.|1915 grade school restored and converted to Lifelong Learning Center.]]

In the early 2000s, the Rainier Historical Society, under the [[Non-profit organization|non-profit]] parent corporation of the Rainier Area Building Community, began restoring Rainier's [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Thurston County, Washington|historic schoolhouse]], which was built in 1915, and converting it into a [[community center]] known as the Lifelong Learning Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/school.html |title=Lifelong Learning Center |publisher=Rainier Historical Society |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> In 2005, the [[Food bank|Rainier Food Bank]] was opened at the site, serving patrons on Wednesdays and Saturdays.<ref>Truscott, Seth. "Rainier Food Bank turning a year old." ''Nisqually Valley News.'' May 26, 2006. Section B5.</ref> A [[thrift store]] was also opened, with the proceeds going to fund the operational costs of the building. An [[art gallery]] and public meeting rooms followed. In November 2009, the Rainier Volunteer Library opened at the center, featuring a collection of donated books available for borrowing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rainierlibrary.org/about_us.html |title=About Us |publisher=Rainier Volunteer Library |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> A partnership with the [[Timberland Regional Library]] brought the addition of a computer kiosk and the ability to pick up reserved books from the Timberland Regional Library system at the Rainier Volunteer Library.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Tyler |date=April 27, 2010 |title=Check out Rainier's new library |url=http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/27/1219848/check-out-rainiers-new-library.html |work=The Olympian |accessdate=July 9, 2010}}</ref> In the fall of 2011, the food bank, under the name Rainier Emergency Food Center, relocated to a nearby church due to safety concerns at the historic schoolhouse. The building, which had been near demolition, was returned to the school district to be used for offices in 2015, its centennial year, and the library and thrift store were closed.<ref name="Historical Society">{{cite web |title=Current News |url=http://www.rainierhistoricalsociety.org/ |website=Rainier Historical Society |access-date=July 24, 2018}}</ref>