South Eugene Tour

South Eugene Tour

Meet Wiley Griffon

As you travel this route, you’ll meet Wiley Griffon, who is Eugene’s first Black resident to be identified by name. Griffon made his home here in the 1890s, when statewide exclusion laws prohibited Black people from owning property or even living within the city limits. Griffon worked various jobs, as a streetcar driver and as a UO janitor. He also owned a home near 4th Avenue and Mill Street, in proximity to the Eugene Water and Electric (EWEB) building.

Directions

Walk, ride or run to the 2100 block of Willamette Street. If you are driving, you may park in the public lot at the corner of 24th Avenue and Amazon Street near the South Eugene track. From there, proceed north on the Amazon bike path. Cross at the KidSports facility and continue past the soccer fields and up the walkway toward Willamette Street. You can see the Wiley Griffon mural from across the street. To view the mural up close, please use the crosswalk at 22nd and Willamette.