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BACKSTORY:
Railroads were king in the mid- to late 1800's, when Centralia was founded. The line which was built northward to connect Seattle with Oregon ran right through the town, and in 1912 the now historic Union Depot was built.
The Depot serves as a reminder of the boom Centralia experienced during the early 1900's. Between 1900 and 1914 the population increased by almost 400%. Today, the Depot is used by both Amtrak passengers and as a rest stop for local transit passengers.
Thanks in part to a Heritage Capital Projects grant from the Washington State Historical Society, the Depot has become one of the best looking buildings in downtown Centralia, and residents, city officials and Amtrak personnel are rightfully proud of the historic structure.