Lewis and Clark Hotel

When the Lewis and Clark Hotel opened in 1927, it announced itself as one of Centralia's most ambitious buildings. Rising eight stories at the corner of Pearl and Magnolia, it became the tallest building in the historic downtown and a symbol of the city's confidence during the prosperous years before the Great Depression.

The hotel was designed by Robert Reamer, the architect best known for the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park. In Centralia, Reamer's design brought scale, sophistication, and urban presence to a city defined by railroads, timber, agriculture, and regional trade. The building's steel-frame construction, buff brick exterior, tripartite composition, patterned brickwork, overhanging cornice, and decorated upper windows gave it a commanding place in the downtown skyline.

The Lewis and Clark was financed locally and constructed at a cost estimated between $300,000 and $325,000. When it opened, it offered 100 guest rooms, 65 of them with private baths - an impressive level of comfort for the period. Guests could dine in a formal dining room, attend events in the ballroom, visit the restaurant and lounge, and stay within walking distance of the train depot. Because Centralia sat roughly halfway between Portland and Seattle, the hotel became a well-used stop for travelers moving through the region.

Its interior reinforced the building's ambition. The main lobby was designed in a Spanish motif, with decorative pillars and cast iron chandeliers, creating a sense of refinement that matched the hotel's role as a regional destination. The Lewis and Clark was not simply a place to stay; it was a statement that Centralia belonged on the map of important Northwest towns.

The building's ownership changed over time. In 1942, it passed into local hands under Will H. Oliver, Claude J. Oliver, and Captain Elroy McCaw. Later decades brought additional ownership changes and new uses. In 1973, the building was purchased by Conner Construction Company of Seattle and converted into a federally subsidized elderly housing facility.

Today, the Lewis and Clark Hotel remains one of downtown Centralia's most prominent landmarks. Its height, history, and architecture preserve the memory of a time when the city looked upward with ambition and welcomed travelers with style.