Want to know about the buildings on the National Historic Register in downtown Centralia?
A walking tour has now been put together to provide you with information. Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marcus Holland says a plaque has been placed on the sidewalk in front of each building.
“We are highlighting the historic buildings in Centralia with our 50 buildings on the National Historic Register,” Holland said. “It is something that we can market to outside of our area to come look at our downtown and what we have to offer. The other part of this is that there are new buildings. We’re embracing the past while new businesses are opening downtown. This allows us to point at the history and what created this town, whether it was trains, coal, oil, or agriculture, and also incorporate into how we’re marketing our community.”
Holland says the project has been dedicated to a former mayor and historian who came up with the project several years ago.
“The buildings go from 1853 to 1958, as far as the ones that are contributing to the historic registry. I know that John Stumeier was a big part of this as he was the town historian and storyteller. We dedicated this project to John, and it really highlights the story we’re telling about Centralia, how we are embracing our past and moving toward the future.”
A map of all the buildings included on the walk is available at seecentralia.com. Holland says additional information about the buildings will be added in the future.
