Centralia

Centralia (sen-trail-ya) was founded by George Washington, a freed slave from Virginia, who faced serious discrimination in several states and territories before settling here in 1852. The town has a well-maintained historic business district. In a park just off I-5 stand the Borst Blockhouse (built during the 1855-56 Indian Wars) and the elegant Borst farmhouse. Centralia is an antiques-hunter's paradise, with 350 dealers in 11 malls. It's also known for its 17 murals depicting the region's history. Pick up a brochure about the murals at the Centralia Train Depot. Six miles to the south is the sister city of Chehalis (sha-hay-liss), where there's a historical museum and the Chehalis-Centralia Steam Train.