Ken Kesey and the History of Eugene Hippies

signifiers for individuality and freedom within the counterculture movement as they set the standard for non-conformity within the hippie community for generations to come, according to The Furthur Down the Road Foundation.

Towards the end of the 1960s, Kesey returned to Oregon after being arrested for the possession of cannabis. Once released, Kesey continued to write, raise his family and teach at the UO. He died in Eugene on Nov. 10, 2001. Kesey remains an important symbol of Eugene’s uniqueness after spending the peak years of the counterculture movement building a legacy based on individuality and the freedom to express. It is likely that many members of Kesey’s loyal community followed in his footsteps and relocated to the funky town of Eugene, Oregon.

In addition to the nonconformist and free-spirited attitude, Eugene offers various tributes to Kesey. His undeniable influence resulted in his statue being erected on the corner of Willamette Street and Broadway, known as Kesey Square. Coined “The Storyteller,” the statue depicts Kesey reading to his three grandchildren. Plus, the aforementioned “Furthur” now resides on the Kesey family farm, just outside of the Eugene city limits.

Kesey’s granddaughter, Kate Smith, introduced the Kesey Farm Project in 2016. This initiative “works to host programming that support[s] emerging writers and artists from all backgrounds, encouraging collaboration and exploration… for the next generation of creative thinkers,” according to Kesey Farm Project website. Although the farm is closed to the public, anyone interested in visiting the farm can join the Kesey Farm Project’s mailing list in order to stay updated on visitation opportunities. Editors note: during the creation of this article, Green Eugene reached out to Kesey Farm Project and has yet to hear back. Any comments will be updated in the online version of this story.

The University has done its part in memorializing Kesey as well. According to The Ken Kesey Collection at the University of Oregon Libraries, his archives of manuscripts, artwork, collages and photographs dating from 1960-2001 have been purchased and will be preserved at the Knight Library for the foreseeable future. The special collections room is worth checking out next time you find yourself on campus; it is a great privilege to have access to the raw materials produced by one of the counterculture’s founding fathers.

As Eugene continues to develop into the quirky city that we all know and love, Eugenian’s are encouraged to remember who inspired the city’s original spunk. Next time you find yourself appreciating the weirdness of Eugene, you’ll know to thank Mr. Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters.