Peavy Arboretum

Oregon, United States

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Peavy Arboretum, located near Corvallis, Oregon, was established in 1926 by Oregon State Agricultural College (now Oregon State University) as a living laboratory and classroom for the College of Forestry.

The arboretum spans about 181 acres, originally purchased to create a nearby facility where forestry students could study and experiment with a wide variety of tree and shrub species, both native and exotic.

The land had been inhabited for thousands of years by the Lukiamute band of the Kalapuya people before Euro-American settlement. Between 1933 and 1942, a Civilian Conservation Corps camp operated at Peavy, building trails, roads, and infrastructure like irrigation reservoirs, and enhancing the grounds with reforestation and fire prevention efforts.

The Clarke-McNary State Nursery was established here in 1925 to support statewide reforestation efforts, distributing hundreds of thousands of seedlings. The arboretum now functions as a research forest and educational site, featuring over 150 plant species and interpretive trails that highlight its ecological and historical significance. It is managed by Oregon State University and remains a notable example of forestry education and conservation.