Much of the first 100 years history of Centralia centered around the railroads. Founded in 1857 along the newly constructed North missouri Railroad, the city's economics, street patterns and life styles were substantially influenced by this transportation. In 1864 a guerrilla band ambushed a train carrying Union soldiers. The massacre and subsequent direct battle resulted in over 100 deaths.

Centralia Historical Society Museum
319 East Sneed St, 682-5711

  The house was built in 1904 by a druggist Robert Linwood Hope and his wife, Belle Downing Hope. They lived there with their son until 1908. Charles Early and his wife bought the house and lived there with their family. Albert Bishop and his wife Frances Gano Chance bought the house in 1923 and lived there until his death in 1949. The house was then converted into the guest house for the A. B. Chance Company and was used in this manner from 1954 to 1973.

  In 1974, the Chance Foundation provided the house to the historical society for collecting, preserving, and exhibiting artifacts that document the history of the area. The museum features rotating vintage exhibits, Victorian luncheons, and an Annual Quilt Show. The museum is open to visitors from 2 to 4 p.m. every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. The museum is on the National Register of Historic Sites.

Chance Gardens

  Adjacent to the museum are the beautiful Chance Gardens blending a waterfall, flowers, trees and rock formations. The gardens were the vision of A. B. Chance who was fascinated by international gardens he enjoyed during his 1927 world tour. Maude Daswon Taylor, a woman architect from Kansas City, designed the gardens to reflect Chance's vision. Over 300 tons of Missouri stone were used in the initial construction, during the mid-1930's, and included over 700 varieties of plants and flowers.

  The gardens were renovated in the 1970's. Currently, the gardens are maintained by the Chance Foundation and are planted seasonally. Visitors still enjoy large variety of plants and flowers. Chance Gardens are also on the National Register of Historic Sites.

The "Prairie Queen"

Downtown Centralia is home to a mural designed by Jim LeGrande. The mural depicts many aspects of Centralia's History. In the forefront is A.B. Chance with one of his first inventions, the reverse handlebars. History tells of a time when Centralia was known as the "Prairie Queen." The leaders of our community commissioned an artist to record the best qualities of the ladies of Centralia, then combine those images into a single portrait. This drawing became known as the "Prairie Queen!." In the mural she is opening the book of Centralia's History and the history is pouring out of its pages. The train and stagecoach were both important in the founding of our community. The stagecoach in the mural represents the events leading up to the Centralia Massacre and Battle. Flags for the North and South are both pictured because Centralia's population was divided during the Civil War. Chance Gardens is the oldest public garden in Boone County and a large part of our community. The mural depicts a couple getting married in the garden in front of the wishing well. In the upper corner is Adam Rodemyre the founder of the Centralia Fireside Guard. Some of the other images are the Centralia Water Tower, an original city water and light truck, Indian Teepees and a logo for the A.B. Chance Co.