|
Discover Corvallis Visitor Guide by Rick McKinney [The following is an example of straight public relations text written for a visitor's bureau in Oregon] History & Arts: In Corvallis, art and history ride tandem in classic architecture. The Benton County Courthouse, built in 1888, is the oldest courthouse in Oregon still being used for its original purpose. The inscription beneath the courthouse tower's four clock faces reads, "The Flight Of Time." For Corvallis, it has been a smooth flight, one of continued progress and prosperity. Long home to Native Americans called the Kalapuya, Corvallis was built on land donated by early settlers Joseph Avery and William Dixon. Avery was the first newcomer to establish a claim in the area in 1845. He named his planned city "Marysville," a name he would later change to avoid confusion with Marysville, California. A year later in 1846, Jesse Applegate and a dozen other settlers passed through while forging the historic Applegate Trail, a southern route from the Oregon Trail. By 1850, Marysville had its own post office and store. And a year later, the first steamboat arrived in town via the Willamette, and Avery's new city was designated the county seat. Renamed Corvallis in 1853, the city had become both the head of steamboat navigation on the Willamette and a major supply center for miners headed south during the southern Oregon gold rush. Corvallis was the fourth city to be officially incorporated into the state of Oregon, boasting a population of 500 that year in 1857. The young city continued to grow as a trade center for farmers producing wheat and hops. To the turn of the century farmer, the fertile conditions of the Willamette Valley were so ideal as to warrant being called "The Promised Land." When the first passenger train arrived on Jan 28, 1880, Corvallis marked the "end of the line" southbound from Portland. Not until the end of the century would trains travel farther south. By then, Corvallis would be alive with industry, host to flouring mills, brickyards, carriage factories, brewery, sawmills, even a cigar factory. Visit either the Benton County History Center in downtown Corvallis or the Benton County Historical Museum just five minutes away in Philomath for an in-depth look at the area's past. Get the historical facts and see exhibits you would never have imagined, such as a wreath made of human hair, a keepsake quite common for the time. Every year, the museum hosts an exhibit of fine quilts during a countywide celebration of quilt-making. Known as Quilt County, the collaborative event highlights a featured quilt artist and honors the craft with seminars and special events throughout Benton County. Feel like your gliding through a 19th century period painting as you experience dinner theater aboard the Willamette Queen, an authentic Sternwheeler now navigating the waters that helped Benton County thrive in its early days. Take in a play or visit one of a dozen local art galleries. The arts are alive and thriving in Corvallis with a network of guilds, galleries, exhibitions, performances and classes, much of it fueled by volunteer community involvement and all of it available to the public. It's just a short walk from the historic courthouse through the fragrant rose gardens of Central Park to the century-old church housing the Corvallis Arts Center and its monthly changing fine art exhibits, on-going art classes, and ever-popular Brown Bag Performance Series featuring performances every Wednesday at noon. And there's more to the Corvallis arts scene, from the Old Time Fiddlers Gathering to the Inside Opera Lecture Series, there's something for everyone all of the time! Festivals & Events: Benton County has long been a celebration unto itself, a vital and vibrant year-round festival of abundant growth and prosperity. One hundred-fifty years ago, the Willamette Valley was the coveted "first prize" for young pioneering Americans in search of a new start at the end of the Oregon Trail. If you thought a decade of da Vinci Days, outdoor markets, festivals, fairs, and fireworks was fun, wait until you see what Corvallis has cooked up for the coming millennium! Join us now as we dance across the finish line of a closing era in time and into the 21st century together! Celebrate life, freedom, artistry, the bounty of the harvest and the wonders of science in festive Corvallis fashion. The Oregon Folklife Festival launches a summer of spirited fun with a salute to the summer solstice in June. A combined music festival and Renaissance Faire, the Folklife Festival features national and regional artists, workshops, a children's performance stage and more. Enjoy both contemporary and traditional music in this fun for the whole family summer welcome celebration. Next up it's the Red, White & Blues Riverfront Festival on July 4th, showcasing a wide array of ethnic foods, premium local wines and fresh microbrewed beers, as well as crafts and activities for children and adults alike. Jump right in to the All-Comers Parade and stay into the evening for a triumphant fireworks display at dusk. We think you'll agree that the only blues at this party is in the music! In the words of British comedy troupe Monty Python, "Now for something completely different!" No, it's not a penguin on the television set, it's Einstein and van Gogh on a tandem Big Wheel in the mud. It's the brilliant, breakthrough, fun-filled invention Leonardo never thought of: da Vinci Days! A uniquely Corvallis creation, this three-day event showcases the best in art, science and technology. Always the third weekend in July, da Vinci Days features the Kinetic Sculpture Race, a contest of one-of-a-kind all-terrain vehicles combining artistry, function and human energy. In keeping with this year's theme, "Earth: Foundation For Exploration," da Vinci Days `99 will feature a unique labyrinth of mud & sticks, a world-class kite exhibition, a display of Art Cars by local artists, a film festival, renowned keynote speakers and more. It's a dazzling array of cutting edge science exhibits and art related activities that you won't want to miss. Now in its 11th year, da Vinci Days is a melding of local talents in a renaissance city host to hi-tech industry, Oregon's oldest state university, and a thriving cultural community. Since there's no such thing as too much fun, July also offers the Philomath Frolic & Rodeo, a long weekend of bull riding, bronco busting western fun including a parade through downtown. August ushers in the beloved Benton County Fair, five packed days of rodeos, tractor pulls, farm and garden exhibits, a carnival for the kids, and a variety of well-known musical acts. And it doesn't stop there! The Fall Festival, one of Corvallis' most popular annual events, brings together artisans from all over the Northwest in September. Discover unique treasures, sample excellent food, and enjoy the music as you wander through flower-filled Central Park with a rhythm in your step! And nearby Philomath is host to the Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire. The only event of its kind in Oregon, this Elizabethan living history revel and marketplace thrives with jousting knights, noble steeds, and costumed merchants and entertainers. For a full list of local events, dates and times, stop by the Visitors Center and say hello! Parks, Sports & Tours: [add this to existing text, if you so desire!] The Corvallis Cruisers now sponsor regular "Volkssporting" walks: the Historic Corvallis Walk and the Corvallis Hills Walk and Bike. These non-competitive, participatory walks run year-round and encourage physical activity at one's own pace. Drop by the Corvallis Visitor's Bureau for a schedule. Dining: The dawn of a new millennium hearkens a greater understanding and cultural exchange across an ever-shrinking globe. In Benton County, a smaller planet means a larger than ever span of international cuisine. If you're hungry for something unique, we've got it. Corvallis, literally "the heart of the valley," wants to wine and dine you to your heart's content! From fine dining to pub fare, tacos or Thai, there's something for everyone in Corvallis! It's vitally important when arriving anywhere new to get oriented and be made to feel welcome. The Corvallis Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to serve you. Quite literally the first place you come to when crossing the Willamette and arriving in Corvallis from Interstate 5, our Visitor Center is designed to make your first impression a great one! The Center is staffed with knowledgeable, courteous and helpful people eager to answer your every query, address your every need. Providing maps, listings, brochures, and helpful hints, we're here to make you feel at home no matter what the nature of your visit. We make it a point to know everything there is to do and see here in "the heart of the valley." In addition to one-on-one traveler assistance, the Corvallis Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a wide range of other services including event planning, publicity and attendee registration for conventions and large groups. For more information please visit our website at www.visitcorvallis.com. -XXXX-
 |
