Descendants and Preservationists Launch Restoration of Eugene's Historic Mims House

Descendants of the Mims family joined local preservationists to launch a restoration project for the Historic Mims House in Eugene, an effort aimed at stabilizing the aging structures of a property tied to one of the city's first Black families. The initiative seeks to protect the house from further deterioration and preserve a material link to Eugene's early Black history.

Organizers formally launched the project on February 25, 2026, announcing the effort to stabilize the house and surrounding structures. The restoration team described the work as focused on structural stabilization of the property to prevent collapse and loss, with an emphasis on preserving the historical fabric connected to the Mims family name.

The collaboration places direct descendants of the Mims family alongside local preservationists in decision-making and planning. That partnership brings family stewardship into preservation work at a site that community members identify as central to Eugene's Black heritage, and positions descendants to influence how the property is conserved for public memory and future use.

Preserving the Historic Mims House carries implications beyond bricks and beams. As a property associated with one of Eugene's earliest Black families, the house serves as a tangible counterpoint to gaps in the city's built environment and public history. Stabilizing the structure is intended to safeguard that connection and create opportunities for interpretation that acknowledge the Mims family's place in Lane County's past.

The restoration launch on February 25, 2026, follows growing interest among local advocates in protecting sites tied to underrepresented histories in Eugene. By centering descendants in the project and prioritizing stabilization of the aging structures, the effort aims to arrest immediate physical decline while opening space for longer-term planning about the site's use, access, and interpretation for the community.

Work on the Historic Mims House now moves from planning to action with descendants and preservationists driving the early phase focused on stabilization. The project represents a locally rooted attempt to preserve a rare surviving property linked to one of Eugene's first Black families and to keep that story visible in Lane County's shared landscape.