Walking Tours

Sometimes being green does not mean spending money on expensive products or restaurants, but simply finding a part of the day to go outside and take a walk. Two places to do this are the Avery-Helm and College Hill West Historic Districts, which are offered as walking tours through Corvallis Tourism.
Avery-Helm: This area is located in the southwest corner of Corvallis. The walking area consists of nine full blocks and ten partial blocks on a laid out grid system and highlights a fantastic history of this downtown section of Corvallis. Starting with the history of J.C Avery in the 1840's, this tour takes the walker through a whirlwind history while offering some views of classic architecture and wonderful river scenes.
College Hill West: This small section of housing lies adjacent to oregon State University and is currently occupied by college students and familes alike. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and contains over 250 historic homes. It is more of a community of pragmatic, middleclass homes, rather than a showcase of a few grand buildings. The homes reflect the incomes of professionals, rather than the fortune of lumber or mining barons who built at other Oregon hitoric sites. This tour takes the walker back to the early 1910's and provides an exciting history regarding the progression of Corvallis through the 1900's until modern day.
Detailed information and maps of these tours can be obtained through Corvallis Tourism. They include a full walking area map, historical facts, and provide examples of what the houses are and a brief history of them. Remember, being green can sometimes be just as easy as taking a walk.