Eugene Weekly asked geographer Al Urquhart to let us in on some of his favorite spaces and places in Eugene.
What would he show summer visitors from larger Western cities — Portland, Seattle? We don’t want sites simply of local interest. With these places and spaces Urquhart said he is trying to show the unique character of Eugene and Springfield. Urquhart taught cultural geography at the UO for about 30 years and has been keenly interested in the unfolding of this area. Let us know what you would add or subtract from this list.
Buildings
First Christian Church, Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse, old Unitarian Church, Eugene Public Library, Shelton McMurphey Johnson House and these special places on the UO campus: Deady Hall, Gerlinger Hall, Jaqua Center and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
Rooms
Around town: the lobby of the Hult Center and inside McMenamins North Bank Restaurant. On the UO campus: the throne room and interior courtyard of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; special collections room of the Knight Library; hallway and study area of the Knight School of Law; Gerlinger Lounge; atriums of the science complex and the College of Business.
Landscapes and views
Riverfront bike and walking paths; EWEB plaza; DeFazio bridge; Delta Ponds north of Valley River Center; views from bridges; Skinner Butte Park, including views from summit; Spencer Butte and Ridgeline trails; Hendricks Park rhododendron garden. Intersection of 5th and Willamette (one block in each direction) and UO campus as a whole; ensembles on UO campus — Knight Library quadrangle, School of Education courtyard, School of Music interior courtyard; Pioneer Cemetery; Hayward Field and adjacent sports fields, football buildings and courtyard and Autzen Stadium.
Other views
West Eugene Wetlands; Amazon Park’s view south over soccer fields near Roosevelt Junior High; College Hill Reservoir.
Historical streets
5th Avenue from High to Oak; Broadway from Lincoln to High; Jefferson from 8th to 13th; Washington from 13th to 18th; Lincoln from 18th to 27th; University and Potter from 19th to 24th; Fairmont Boulevard.
Don’t forget the Main Street of Springfield and also River Road.