This performing arts facility has received glowing reviews for its architectural beauty and clear acoustics. The facility is also used by a wide variety of visiting musical and drama groups as well as by the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, Eugene Ballet, Oregon Mozart Players, and Eugene Opera. The university itself offers first-class musical and drama events and sponsors films, art shows, and lectures throughout the year. Fine arts are displayed at the UO Museum of Art, famed for its Asian collection, and at more than a dozen local galleries. Oregon Living in Oregon is one of the benefits of attending the University of Oregon.
Residents take pride in their state and in preserving their beautiful natural environment.
The mild climate of western Oregon fosters moderate winters and pleasant summers. It rains about forty inches a year - the same as in Boston, New York, or Philadelphia. From Eugene it is only a short drive west to the state's stunning coastline with the largest stretch of coastal dunes in the country. Several nearby lakes and rivers support sailing, water skiing, and white-water rafting. Portland, the state's major metropolitan city and home of the Oregon Health Sciences University is a two-hour drive to the north.