Joseph Borst was an early American pioneer who settled in the Chehalis Valley of present-day Centralia, Washington. Along with his family, Borst established a homestead at the confluence of the Chehalis and Skookumchuck rivers. Beginning in 1856, he constructed a two-and-a-half-story Greek Revival home that remains a significant regional landmark.
Over the years, the Borst family expanded their property to include a variety of community hubs, including a blockhouse, a ferry, a hotel, a store, and an early school. They also built a notably large barn in 1861. The family resided on the grounds into the early 1900s, after which the property was acquired by the city of Centralia. Today, the preserved home operates as a public historic site and museum within Fort Borst Park.
