The Shelton McMurphey Johnson House Museum received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to create an audio tour of the Skinner Butte neighborhood showcasing lesser known histories of the area. The tour highlights a range of stories linked to specific places on Skinner Butte and the surrounding neighborhood based on oral histories with local historians, residents, and knowledge holders.

Discover the hidden stories of one of Eugene’s most iconic landmarks. Through voices from the community this self-guided audio tour reveals how Skinner Butte has shaped, and been shaped by, the people who live here.

Hear short audio clips, view historical photos, and explore a rich tapestry of cultural, social, and environmental history that brings this neighborhood to life.

Want to take this tour on a walk with you the easy way? Find our tours and more information about the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, you can download the Bloomberg Connects App and search for “Shelton McMurphey Johnson House.” 

Skinner Butte Water Reservior
Activism for pubilc good
Electric Cross on top of Skinner's Butte. Image owned by Lane County History Museum.
Signs on the Hill
Man using telescope at UO Observatory. Circa 1900. Image owned by Lane County History Museum.
Looking Up
Auto camp in 1927 at Skinner's Butte Park (formally Riverview Park.)
People and Place
Mims House, Circa 1970s, House built in 1859, Wooden Structure
A Place of Safety and Belonging
Woman driving truck for Starflower Natural Foods. Circa 1970. Photo owned by Outliers and Outlaws, The Eugene Lesbian Oral History Project - Digital Exhibit.
Creating a Queer Community
GN157
Races Role in the Community