The Pacific Highway Centralia to Olympia

Centralia

The city of Centralia first began as a small settlement called Skookum Chuck. This is where the Military Road merged with the Cowlitz Trail coming up from the south. The first inhabitants of this place were the Upper Chehalis. For many years they had camps on Ford's prairie which they called "Tasunshun," which means "resting place." At the confluence of the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers it was called "Tuaoton," which means; "a crossing of the river." After the arrival of the Europeans, they kept a permanent camp there for a few years for the purpose of ferrying travelers and their belongings across the river in their canoes for a small fee. They would also assist in the swimming of pack animals and livestock.

Grand Mound

At the turn of the 20th century, Grand Mound was a small farming community of a few hundred people with a general store and post office. The population of Grand Mound in 1900 was 279 people. By 1910 the town grew to 394 and at it's peak in 1920, there were 689 souls. By the 1940's the town had around 200. Gone are the days when Grand Mound was a busy place catering to travelers going between the Columbia river and Puget Sound.

Bucoda

The Skookumchuck river begins its journey in the Huckleberry mountains southwest of Mt. Rainier. The river then flows in a northwest direction for 7 miles through the Skookum Chuck valley where it meets the Frost prairie which is located 2 miles south of Tenino. Here the river turns to the southwest and flows through a narrow canyon before it reaches Bucoda while on its way to the Chehalis river at Centralia.

The Bucoda Road

The highway between Bucoda and Tenino runs through Frost Prairie. This prairie is situated southeast of Scatter creek and west of the Skookumchuck river. The prairie was named after Gilbert Frost who settled there in the 1850's. This was a part of the Coal Bank precinct. The first school in Tenino was built on Frost Prairie in the 1860's. The area is considered Upper Chehalis territory though there were no known villages there. The first settlers would arrive in the 1850's.

Scatter Creek Crossing

Scatter creek is a stream in Thurston county that begins about 3 miles northwest of Tenino and follows the ancient glacial drainage route 16 miles westward and empties into the Chehalis river at Helsing Junction, which is 4 miles west of Grand Mound. Scatter creek runs through a 915 acre protected area and wildlife reserve, located a mile and a half north of Grand Mound. The site is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and is one of the 5 units that comprise the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area. There are 2 main sections of the reserve, the North Tract and the South Tract and a 2.5 mile nature trail that loops around the perimeter of the entire North Tract. The South tract borders 183 Ave. SW and next to the cemetery is the site of Fort Henness.

Tenino

Tenino is located 15 miles south of Olympia and about 15 miles north of Centralia. By the 1900's, Tenino had grown into a prosperous town of 370 souls. Its many industries had made it one of the largest commercial centers in Thurston county. Plus being situated on the main route between Portland and Seattle, it was a busy place.

Chain Hill

Chain Hill as it is known today is located north of Tenino and lies between two large glacial drainage paths. At the north end of Chain hill is Rocky prairie. During the Ice Age, the Puget Sound glacier was advancing south and overrode the hills north of Tenino, and filled the valley more than 300 feet above it. The glacier did not advance any further than the south hills of Tenino. As the glacier crossed over the top of Chain hill it deposited rocky till on its north side. The rock and gravel raised the elevation of the prairie, and the ensuing melt eroded the prairie leaving the rocky terrain that gives the prairie its name.

Bush Prairie

After leaving Hodgdon's Station, the Cowlitz Trail crossed over Chain hill and then bumped across the cobblestones of Rocky prairie. After being jostled around in a mud wagon for 8 hard miles, the trail comes to the open grassy fields of the Bush prairie. The prairie is located 5 miles south of Olympia and comprises about 4,000 acres. The prairie has been farmed since the early 1850's. William Owen Bush, son of George Bush had by 1891, cultivated 200 acres of oats, wheat and potatoes. He said his crops improved each year during the 40+ years he farmed on the prairie. The soil was so fertile that William became world champion for his wheat at the Centennial Expo in 1876. Today, Bush prairie is home to the Olympia Regional Airport.

Tumwater

The Deschutes river is one of the largest rivers in Thurston county, and begins its journey to Puget Sound in the Cascade mountains a few miles west of Alder lake near Elbe. The river is a part of the 170 square mile Deschutes watershed. The watershed has 52 river miles and 143 tributaries, and flows through; forests, wetlands, prairies, farmland, and residential communities. As the river descends down the mountain, it flows through ancient volcanic rock and then follows along the north side of the Northcraft Formation, through the town of Vail, before reaching Western Junction and Eaton prairie. Here the river begins to drain through a narrow valley and then cascades over 3 waterfalls and empties into Puget Sound at Budd's Inlet.

Boston Street Bridge

The original Pacific highway crossing of the Deschutes river was across a narrow gorge between the upper and middle Tumwater falls. Today this crossing is known as the Boston Street bridge. The first bridge over the river was completed at the end of February 1853, between the falls, and near the grist mill. Tumwater and Olympia were now linked by a good wagon road, which was appreciated by the farming community located on the south side of the river, as well as being of the greatest importance to the traveling public. The bridge would be replaced in the 1870's and again around 1900. Wooden bridges did not last very long.

Capitol Boulevard / Capitol Way

By 1935, the Pacific Highway through Tumwater had become obsolete. The 4 elbow-jointed turns that drivers had to negotiate on the old highway slowed traffic creating a bottleneck. All the traffic between Seattle and Portland was going through Tumwater. These sharp turns were all located near the Boston bridge, and it became a dangerous place for both drivers and pedestrians. In 1924, between July 21st and August 10th, a total of 3,193 vehicles which included 6 wagons, passed through Tumwater going southbound. Leaving Olympia traveling eastward toward Tacoma, there were a total of 5,539 vehicles, including 8 wagons.