This community, situated midway between
Seattle and Portland, OR on
Interstate 5, was founded in 1875 by George Washington, a black man born into slavery whose portrait is one of several historic murals in Centralia. Centralia is considered a twin city with
Chehalis which is only four miles to the south.
Visit the Fort Borst Blockhouse, which was constructed in 1852 as a defense against Indian attacks but was never used for that purpose.
There is also a Centralia, Missouri.