Centre College began its year-long bicentennial celebration on Wednesday with special speakers, seminars, a documentary, music and a five-tiered birthday cake.

Following Wednesday evening’s celebration on stage at Norton Center for the Arts, hundreds of alumni, staff and current students gathered in the foyer to enjoy an array of decadent desserts, beautifully decorated cakes and a special toast — with sparkling grape juice — in honor of Centre’s 200th anniversary and its future.

Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders and officially chartered by the Kentucky Legislature on Jan. 21, 1819.

The college will celebrate its actual founding date with a day of service where volunteers from the school will work in Danville and in communities around the country.

At top right, Visitors celebrating Centre College’s 200th anniversary Wednesday evening study historic photos from the college’s past that are part of a photographic display titled “Pieces of Time”. The exhibit will be up through May 19. At right, A five-tier birthday cake is sliced by a college employee during Centre’s 200th anniversary celebration at Norton Center for the Arts Wednesday night.