Willamette St. Overlook, Skinners Butte Cross
Posted by: 
TheBeanTeam
N 44° 03.465 W 123° 05.559
10T E 492579 N 4878291
Willamette St. Then & Now series part 1. A 30 plus year battle over seperation of church and state eventually removes a local landmark that once stood looking over Willamette Street.
Waymark Code: WM2DD
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 10/10/2005
Views: 54
Skinners Butte:
Eugene Skinner the founder of the City of Eugene built a cabin on the flank of this butte in 1846. Prior to settlement this butte was a gathering place for the
Kalapooian Indians. In the 1920's the KKK
(Wikipedia article) took to cross burnings on the butte. Later a permanent cross was placed amid controversy over its appropriateness. It was declared a war memorial by the city in an attempt to outflank the opposition. Court battles raged and local passions flared for over thirty years until the cross was ordered removed by a Federal Court
Skinners Butte Cross timeline. The cross was moved to a new home in 1997 after a delay caused by a shotgun wielding veteran who had tied himself to the cross in protest.
CIRCA 1964
OCTOBER 2005Be aware that this location is very steep and will be precarious if wet.
Please share a photo at this spot or you can tell a story about your own experience
at this location. Any unique information about Skinners Butte would be appreciated.
If you do not have a camera you may log a visit by e-mailing me words from the first line of the plaque on the East side of the flag pole.
If the Oregon O is any other color than it's intended yellow please log it's changes here as well. In September 05' it was Husky Dawg Purple and Gold and before that it wore the Orange of OSU.
Visit theWillamette St. Then & Now series part 2.