NE Portland - Alameda Ridge and Grant Park

Portland has a lot of great neighborhoods to ramble through, and this walk will go through a couple of them. It starts and finishes at the Alameda Brewhouse and goes through the Alameda Ridge, Dolph Park, and Grant Park neighborhoods. Among other highlights this walk goes through neighborhoods featured by Beverly Cleary in her beloved children's books. The walk is 3.7 miles, and includes one significant down-hill and then one signficant up-hill.

The walk begins at the flagship of the Alameda Brewing Company, one of Portland's older micro-breweries (established in 1996). Despite some changes recently, this brewery should remain a Portland area mainstay.

Proceed west on Fremont Street, the "main street" for the Beaumont Village neighborhood, and a street that is seeing some significant changes. Soon on your left, between 46th and 47th Avenues, you will see these attractive newer townhomes, built in 2002. They represent "infill" development in the Beaumont Village neighborhood of medium-density for-sale homes that made economic sense at the time.

In between the townhomes is a home that originally dominated this block, a beautiful craftsman-style home built in 1914.

Continuing on Fremont, at the corner of 45th and Fremont, on the left, is this interesting artwork adjacent to the parking lot of Grand Central Bakery, another Northwest institution which began in Seattle, but has more stores in Portland now. The bakery is best known for its "rustic" breads. Also of interest is the giant metal ball perched at the corner of Fremont and 45th.

On the opposite side of Fremont is a sign of more recent real estate developments in desirable Portland neighborhoods such as this one. The Beaumont Village apartments were proposed in 2012 and resulted in a major neighborhood controversy. The original plan was modified to put retail development on the ground floor, but no off-street parking was included. The lack of off-street parking, with its pros and cons, was and is a major controversy in Portland.

Continuing along Fremont, on the right is Beaumont Middle School, which was originally constructed in 1926. One of the businesses advertised in the foreground sign is the well-known Portland gourmet pizza chain, Pizzicato.

Continue on Fremont Street for several more blocks to Alameda Street, then turn left. After one block turn right onto Klickitat Street. Klickitat Street is named after a river and county in Washington, but it is also known as the street where Henry Huggins lived. Where Klickitat Street curves to connect to 37th Avenue turn right to continue on Klickitat. At the corner of 36th and Klickitat is this neighborhood corner library, a "honor" book lending system. There are several of these informal libraries around Portland's older neighborhoods.

On the next block, to the right, is the Frank C. Barnes house, an imposing home that was built in 1913 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. More information about the Barnes "mansion" can be found here. The home is the inspiration for a "haunted" house in Bevery Cleary's novels.

At 35th Avenue turn right and then quickly turn left again onto Beakey Street. On the right is the Zimmerman-Rudeen house. This house, built in 1913, is a great example of the Prairie style of architecture originating with Frank Lloyd Wright and other turn-of-the-century Midwest architects.

Continue on Beakey Street. Beyond the Zimmerman-Rudeen house you will see these two homes on the right. They are both new construction, in 2013, and both are on lots half the size of those in the rest of the neighborhood. Undoubtedly this site contained one home until recently, when it was torn down and replaced with two. This is becoming a common occurrence in older, desirable Portland neighborhoods.

Beakey Street ends at 33rd Place, so turn right onto 33rd. At the corner is this unique Norman revival home with a turret. While not as common as Dutch colonial and other styles popular at the time, this style does pop up occasionally in early 20th century middle-class and high-end neighborhoods.

After one block on 33rd Place turn left onto Fremont Street, and after two blocks turn left again onto 32nd Avenue. Head down the hill on 32nd for seven long blocks. The route leaves the Alameda Ridge, a result of the cataclysmic Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age, and heads down into the Grant Park neighborhood. The houses, are somewhat more modest in this neighborhood. The house pictured is typical of a style popular along this street, with a steep pitched roof resulting in 2nd story rooms with some interesting ceiling angles.

Turn left onto U.S. Grant Place. The homes are now bigger again. The street signs identify this neighborhood as Dolph Park, but there doesn't seem to be any official neighborhood designation from the City of Portland, and the boundaries of Dolph Park vs. Irvington to the west and Grant Park to the east are unclear. The actual Dolph Park subdivision plat, created in the early 20th century, is centered slightly to the west of this intersection, at 31st Avenue and Brazee Street.

Continue on U.S. Grant Place for one long block. This is a street of large homes, the most prominent of which is the Haseltine House, on the National Register of Historic Places. This Georgian Revival mansion was constructed in 1935.

Carefully cross busy 33rd Avenue and continue to the left, along the right side of 33rd. To your right is Grant Park, a 20 acre site that also serves as the "backyard" of Grant High School, which is located in the large buildings farther to the right. The park has been here since 1922.

After the athletic field, take the short stairway to the right into Grant Park. You will soon come across these three statues, a boy, a girl, and a dog, and between them a fountain. The boy is Henry Huggins, the girl is Ramona Quimby, and the dog is Ribsy. All three are characters in Beverly Cleary's novels, and this park and neighborhood are in the middle of their stories. Recently Beverly Cleary celebrated her 100th birthday.

Continue through Grant Park along the pedestrian path. Eventually you will see a path diverging to the left toward an elementary school - go that direction. The elementary school is named for Beverly Cleary, one of two in the neighborhood.

Walk straight ahead on 35th Place from the school for two blocks to Stanton Street, then turn right. Continue on Stanton Street for 8 blocks to 43rd Street. This quiet residential street is home to many mature deciduous trees - a typical and welcome attribute in this neighborhood.

Stanton Street ends at 43rd Avenue - cross the street and head up the public stairs leading back up onto Alameda Ridge. There are 115 treads on this stairway. If you are interested in a real up and down stair experience on Alameda Ridge, Metro's Walk There series has a good route.

Once at the top of the stairs you are back on Alameda Ridge, On your left is the Tannler-Armstrong House, an English Cottage-style home built in 1924 and on the National Register of Historic Places. This large house was originally built for a childless couple, and thus has only two (presumably very large) bedrooms.

At the top of the stairs, turn right on Alameda Street. The first house on the right, separated from the Tannler-Armstrong House, is the Crum House, built in 1926 and also on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is a mixture of historic styles, including French Renaissance and Gothic Revival. It was designed by Portland architect Leigh Dougan, who got his start as an office boy in the Chicago office of Frank Lloyd Wright. The original owners, Virgil and Beulah Crum, were, like their neighbors in the Tannler-Armstrong House also childless. After passing the Crum House continue on Alameda Street for several more blocks with its stately homes.

Turn left onto 48th Avenue and head north. The homes along these streets are more modest than those along Alameda. Amidst the bungalows and various colonial-type historical revival homes sits this Spanish-style home on the left. There are a few homes of this style scattered in Portland's 1920's neighborhoods.

Later on 48th Street you will come upon this home, constructed within the past couple of years. The new homes plopped in Portland's historic neighborhoods tend to be either craftsman-style bungalows or starkly modern homes such as this one. You be the judge as to whether this new home complements or distracts from the neighborhood. Continue on 48th Avenue to Fremont Street and the Alameda Brewing Company, where you can enjoy a beer to celebrate finishing this walk.

Corvallis - Oregon State University

Oregon State University is the state's land grant college. Along with its rival 30 miles to the south in Eugene, it is one of the two premier and most established public institutions of higher education in the state. While Corvallis has other major employers, the university is the mainstay of this "college town." This 3.2 mile walk, on flat terrain, will not only go through the university, but also visit some nearby Greek houses and the College Hill West historic district.

This walk starts at the corner of 23rd and Monroe, on the northern edge of the Oregon State University campus. Proceed north on 23rd, away from the campus, into a neighborhood largely populated with students. Along with a few older homes and apartments on 23rd you will see a couple of new student apartments, such as this one on the corner of 23rd and Jackson.

At Harrison Avenue turn left and proceed two blocks to 26th Street, where you will turn left again. 26th has several Oregon State University fraternities and sororities, located in stately houses. The Alpha Gamma Delta sorority is located to the right, with its own Facebook page and even a 28 minute Youtube video of two co-eds giving a tour of the building.

Across the street from Alpha Gamma Delta is the Theta Chi fraternity house. While frat houses generally look more disheveled than sororities, perhaps because they are worse for wear, Alpha Gamma Delta's stately tudor-style home looks well-maintained, at least from the outside.

Also on the left, two fraternities down from Theta Chi, is Alpha Tau Omega's Georgian style brick home.

Continue on 26th to Van Buren Avenue. At the corner is the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, which is built in an Antebellum style with big front porch pillars.

Turn right on Van Buren, and then follow the road as it veers to the left and intersects with Arnold Way. Cross Arnold and continue ahead on 27th Street. You are now in the College Hill West Historic District, which was built primarily between 1910 and 1940. After a short block on 27th turn right onto Jackson Avenue and then right again on 28th Street. On the left, halfway down the street, is the Charles Schuster House, built in 1913, on the National Register of Historic Places as an individual home. The entire College Hill West area is also listed separately on the National Register.

After one block on 28th you will reach Van Buren Avenue again, where you will turn left. On the first block of 28th is the Acacia Fraternity house, built in a colonial style. While the name does not apparently consist of Greek letters, the chapter's website asserts that the fraternity's original name was AKAKIA, or six different Greek letters. The house is a large Colonial-style edifice.

Continue on Van Buren to 30th Street and then turn right. At the corner of Van Buren and 30th is the John Bexell House, built in 1926, and an individual entry on the National Register of Historic Places. The style of this home is a mixture of Tudor Revival and Norman Farmhouse, both popular in the 1920's.

Continue north on 30th Street to Harrison Boulevard. On the corner of 30th and Harrison is the Pi Beta Phi Sorority House, built in 1928 in the French Provincial style. The original sorority vacated the building in 1964 and it was occupied by a fraternity until 1981. According to Zillow it now is split into four apartments. The building is also an individual listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Turn left onto Harrison and proceed to 32nd Street. On the right is the Harding Center, consisting of administrative offices and an alternative high school for the Corvallis School District. The building was constructed in 1923 as the College Hill Elementary School

At 32nd Street turn left. The J. Leo Fairbanks house is located on the first block to the right. The home was constructed in 1926 in an English Cottage style, and is also an individual site on the National Register of Historic Places. Fairbanks House

Continue on 32nd to Johnson Avenue, then turn left and walk to 30th Street, where you will turn right. Straight ahead is the 30th Street entrance to the Oregon State University campus. The street widens to include a large landscape median with mature deciduous trees.

Stay on the left side of 30th Street and after passing Withycombe Hall, home to the Veterinary Sciences department, turn left on Campus Way. On your right is the new home of the Linus Pauling Institute, constructed in 2011. Linus Pauling is one of the most famous scientists of the 20th Century, and in addition was a noted Peace Activist. He won both the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and the Nobel Peace Prize. While his academic career occurred at Caltech and elsewhere, he was a native of Oregon and a graduate of Oregon State University.

Continuing along Campus Way, you will pass underneath a portion of the Agricultural and Life Sciences building,

On your left, before passing underneath the Agricultural and Life Science Building, are historic greenhouses, originally constructed in the 1920's. This is the first of many buildings on this walk that are contributing structures to the Oregon State University National Historic District, established in 2008.

After the Agricultural and Life Sciences Building, Hovland Hall is located on the right. It was constructed in 1924 as the Horticultural Sciences Building and was designed by noted Oregon architect John Virginius Bennes. It was renamed Hovland Hall in honor of longtime Oregon State philosophy and religion professor Warren Hovland. The Department of Horticultural Sciences has moved to the building next door, and Hovland Hall is now occupied by a number of liberal arts programs.

After Hovland Hall turn right onto 26th Street. The first building on your right is the magnificent Italian Renaissance-style Women's Building, now home to the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. It was constructed in 1926. If you have time (and it is open) peak inside at the some the beautiful interior spaces as well.

To the left is the stately Memorial Union, the traditional student union building on campus, constructed in 1929. It sits on the memorial union quad, whish has lots of use on sunny school days.

Continue straight on 26th past the Memorial Union. Next, on your right is Weatherford Hall. Constructed in 1928 as the men's dormitory, it was thoroughly renovated and reopened in 2004.

Continue south on 26th past Weatherford Hall and then, on your right, a large sports field. At Washington Way turn left. Looking further down 26th Street the two major sports venues for Oregon state are visible. The closer building on the left is Gill Coliseum, the main basketball arena. Opened in 1949, it seats 9,600 and has an old-fashioned hoops feel. Beyond is Reser Stadium, home of the football team. Originally opened in 1953, it was significantly expanded in 2005 and now seats over 45,000 fans.

Continue east on Washington Way. The roadway is paralleled on the right by railroad tracks that belong to the insignificant line between Corvallis and Yaquina Bay on the Oregon Coast to the west. However this little branch line has a colorful history.

Continuing on Washington Way, you will soon see, on the left, the Oregon State Beavers baseball stadium. As you can see by the billboard, the school is quite proud of its back-to-back men's baseball championships in 2006 and 2007.

After passing the baseball stadium turn left onto Benton Place. On the right is the McAlexander Fieldhouse. Originally named the Armory, it was constructed in 1910 and renamed for a General McAlexander, a hero of the Spanish-American War and World War I and an Oregon resident and Oregon State benefactor after his retirement from the military. The most notable tenant in the building is the Oregon State University Rifle Club, which has an indoor target range in the building. The school's large ROTC program also has its home in this building

At Jefferson Way turn right. To your left is Furman Hall, housing the College of Education, built in 1902.

Continue along Jefferson. To your right are more modern campus buildings and then an off-campus apartment. To your left is the East Campus quad. At 11th Street turn left and continue along the edge of the quad to the Jensen Gate, which is the official east entrance to what is known as the Lower Campus. Turn left to go through the gate and down the middle of the East Campus quad.

Head back to 11th Street and cross it. Straight ahead is Benton Hall, home to the university's Music Department. Benton Hall is the oldest building on campus, dating back to 1887. It was originally known as the College Building, since the entire school was contained within its walls, and later was known as the Administration Building.

Go straight ahead and pass by Benton Hall on your right. Beyond is the Library Quad, which you will pass through on its north side. The massive Valley Library anchors the south end of the quad, with historic Strand Agricultural Hall (shown in the picture) to the west. Finished in 1913, the building reopened in 2015 after an extensive seismic retrofit.

Continue straight ahead across the Library Quad and once on the other side continue straight between Strand Hall and Gilkey Hall to the right. Once you get to the edge of the Memorial Union Quad, turn right (away from the quad). On your left is the Kelley Engineering Center in a modern building. Oregon State University is Oregon's premier school for engineering studies. Continue north back to Monroe Avenue, and your starting point.