Centralia Pennsylvania

The following photos were sent in by Ray Barnett
Pictures Taken June 17, 2005

Why do we go there? Because it's just so damn interesting. I mean, who knew such a place existed, and especially in boring 'ol PA? It's much like your site says, you can quite easily pass right through it without even realizing it... but it really is an interesting place. One thing I would like to mention about it that you didn't mention on your site (maybe you weren't affected?) is that spending even a small amount of time there in proximity to the vent holes will have negative effects on your health, particularly breathing and throat problems. We spent about 30 minutes up in the area around the vents, on the hill (where the cemetery featured in the pics I sent is), and after we left everyone was complaining of sore/scratchy throats for the following hour or two.

I've been considering some method of avoiding this the next time we visit... perhaps something like wearing painters masks, but I'm not sure how much those would even help.

We plan to spend a lot more time there this coming trip. This trip, we just stopped by Centralia on our way between a wedding and the reception.

I'm glad someone put such time and dedication into giving Centralia a presence on the web, and I hope the pictures are something you can use.

-Ray Barnett

Defunct Amusement Parks
Amusement Parks of Yesterday
Abandoned Places
Abandoned Locations from all over
Area 51 - Groom Lake
The Top-secret military base.
Ghost Towns
Visit Ghost Towns across America
Abandoned PA Turnpike
Did you know Pennsylvania
has an abandoned Turnpike?

These supports of one of the few homes left in Centralia mask hidden I-beams that support the home that was once part of a series of row homes.

Old bricks from demolished home in the foreground as smoke rises behind the fallen tree.

We'll be heading back there again with some new people, some engineering students who have studied the (failed) efforts to stop the fire, etc... their insights should make the trip even more interesting. I am from the Pittsburgh area and have a few friends who live in Ashland.