To celebrate Eugene’s 150th Birthday, the City of Eugene, in collaboration with community partners, has launched a new iPhone application featuring 150 historic locations and structures throughout the city. The application is now available for free through iTunes (search Eugene@150) and provides a map of the city with location markers, images of the sites, and a short narrative about each.
The development of the application was funded by a $4500 Oregon Heritage Grant from the State of Oregon Historic Preservation Office which was matched with City Staff and volunteer time. Members of the City’s Historic Review Board, the Lane County Historical Museum and other volunteers helped gather community, cultural and historic resource information; compiled data on significant city landmarks and areas; and collected supporting images and text for the application. The iPhone application was developed for the City by the University of Oregon's InfoGraphics Lab.
The application includes properties listed on the National Historic Register and local City of Eugene Historic Landmarks as well as other notable places tied to Eugene’s history. Users can use the mobile map to get directions to specific sites or learn what historic sites are near their current location. The application is a free educational tool for local school districts, educators and parents, and it will be promoted to visitors and residents of Eugene who utilize the convenience of smart phones. In addition to building awareness of the city’s birthday and heritage, the application may also help engage the public in the preservation, celebration, and acknowledgement of historic properties and places in Eugene.