On the first Friday of each month, Engage Corvallis introduces free historical tours for visitors and residents of Corvallis to enjoy, aiming to connect the community to the stories all around them. 

This walk, according to lead tour guide Jema Patterson, is in hopes of creating community reflection that is engaging and educational. “We want people to understand how history is shaping them, and to be empowered to take action in the direction that they care about,” Patterson said. 

Now in its third year, this free tour is often described as a kind of engaging performance to Patterson by participants. “This isn’t your grandmother’s history tour,” Patterson said. “We work really hard to explain how things connect to present-day realities.”

Each tour is crafted with a new theme, decided the week prior based on local research and historical relevance. Past walks have explored everything from steamboats and fires to beer history and the contributions of marginalized figures. 

One week might focus on the archaeological work of the Marriott, while another might dive into social justice movements that shaped Corvallis.

Patterson laid out the mission for making history widely accessible with these free tours, saying that by learning the stories of a place, people feel more connected — and more motivated — to care for it. 

“Corvallis itself is like a living classroom,” Patterson said. “If people know the stories of a place, they’ll be inspired to take care of it.”

Downtown Corvallis, with its rich historical buildings and stories around every corner, serves as the tour’s home base. Patterson highlights that whether you’re a lifelong resident or brand new to town, the experience appeals to all ages and backgrounds. 

Gallery • 3 Photos

Landon Marks

The Harding Building, built in 1910, is one of Corvallis' iconic historical buildings.

Patterson described the typical tour group to be “intergenerational” — a testament to the wide array of historical coverage with these monthly tours.

On top of these free events, which are created to give educational opportunities to all community members, Engage Corvallis also hosts an abundance of other tours, which can be found at engagecorvallis.com, with ghosts and crime, beer history and a general Corvallis chronicles tour being offered with a student discount.  

In Patterson’s words: “History is happening to us — and through us.” According to Patterson, these walks make sure no one forgets it.