New Monument Honors Eugene's Black Founders

The 'Across the Bridge' statue will be installed in Alton Baker Park to commemorate the city's pioneering Black families.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:53am by Ben Kaplan

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A vibrant, abstract silkscreen print featuring multiple images of the 'Across the Bridge' monument statue, rendered in a high-contrast pop art style with overlapping neon colors and thick black outlines, conceptually representing the public celebration of a historically marginalized community.A bold, celebratory public art installation honors the resilience and legacy of Eugene's pioneering Black community.Eugene Today

The Black Cultural Initiative of Lane County held a public viewing of a new monument called 'Across the Bridge' that honors some of the first Black families to settle in the Eugene, Oregon area. The statue will eventually be installed in Alton Baker Park, where those families once lived before being displaced when the neighborhood was destroyed. The monument is one of the largest public landmarks to Black history in the state.

Why it matters

The monument aims to celebrate and preserve the history of Eugene's pioneering Black community, which faced displacement and erasure over time. Its installation in a prominent public space represents an important recognition of this overlooked aspect of the city's past.

The details

The 'Across the Bridge' statue was shown to the public on Monday at Reinmuth Bronze Studio before its planned installation at Alton Baker Park later this year. The monument honors members of some of the first Black families to settle in the Eugene area, who once lived in the neighborhood that is now the park.

  • The public viewing of the monument took place on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The full installation of the monument in Alton Baker Park is expected to be completed by September 2026.

The players

Black Cultural Initiative of Lane County

A local organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the history and culture of Eugene's Black community.

Jennifer Scurlock

The daughter of one of Eugene's pioneering Black families, who spoke about the significance of honoring this history.

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What they’re saying

“This was history that was meant to be forgotten; they tried to erode it and erase it - and to see the celebration of something beautiful, celebrating a hardship, and bringing beauty to light of African American culture and people and resilience is truly an honor.”

— Jennifer Scurlock, Daughter of Eugene's Black Pioneers

What’s next

The 'Across the Bridge' monument will be fully installed in Alton Baker Park, with a public unveiling ceremony expected in September 2026.

The takeaway

The installation of this monument represents an important step in recognizing and preserving the history of Eugene's pioneering Black community, which faced displacement and erasure over time. It serves as a powerful public symbol of resilience and the ongoing efforts to celebrate the city's diverse cultural heritage.