Centralia massacre (Washington)
The Centralia Tragedy, also known as the Centralia Conspiracy and the Armistice Day Riot, was a violent and bloody incident that occurred in Centralia, Washington, on November 11, 1919, during a parade celebrating the first anniversary of Armistice Day. The conflict between the American Legion and Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or "Wobblies") members resulted in six deaths, others being wounded, multiple prison terms, and an ongoing and especially bitter dispute over the motivations and events that precipitated the event. Both Centralia and the neighboring town of Chehalis had a large number of World War I veterans, with robust chapters of the Legion and many IWW members, some of whom were also war veterans.
| Centralia massacre | |||
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The burial of Wesley Everest included an armed National Guard unit. | |||
| Date | Armistice Day, November 11, 1919 | ||
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Wesley Everest Gravesite | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | Sticklin–Greenwood Memorial Park, 1905 Johnson Rd. |
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| MPS | Centralia Armistice Day, 1919 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001781 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1991 |
The Sentinel | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | Washington Park |
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| MPS | Centralia Armistice Day, 1919 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001782 |
| Added to NRHP | December 17, 1991 |
Hubbard Bungalow | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location | 717 N. Washington Ave. |
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| MPS | Centralia Armistice Day, 1919 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000922 |
| Added to NRHP | August 24, 2005 |
The ramifications of the event included a trial that attracted national media attention, notoriety that contributed to the First Red Scare in 1919 to 1920, the creation of a powerful martyr for the IWW, a monument to one side of the battle, a mural for the other side, and a formal tribute to the fallen Legionnaires by US President Warren G. Harding.