Eastern Oregon University > Mountaineer Magazine > highlight1 > New and Old Memories on the Grand Staircase

New and Old Memories on the Grand Staircase

For nearly 100 years, the Grand Staircase at Eastern Oregon University has offered more than just a few steps between campus and town. Opened in 1929, the steps served as a highly visible landmark, a stage for musical performances, and a symbol of connection between the school and the community.

Though time and weather eventually forced the Staircase to be closed for access, dedicated efforts have brought it back, and now, a new generation is ready to make it their own.

A Symbol and Childhood Playground

The newly completed Grand Staircase at Eastern Oregon University now welcomes students, alumni, and community members. A vital link between the campus and downtown La Grande for nearly a century, the staircase has been revitalized to ensure safety and preserve its historical significance. Thanks to a $4 million allocation from the Oregon Legislature and the efforts of the EOU Foundation, Alumni Association, and community advocates, the iconic structure stands as a testament to enduring connection and shared memories. (EOU Photograph/ Michael K. Dakota)

EOU Trustee Dr. Chuck Hofmann, who attended Ackerman Elementary School in the 1950s and EOU in the 1970s,

Hofman remembers the Staircase as both a playground and a pathway.

“All my buddies lived that direction,” he said. “We played on that Staircase all the time. We never went down 8th Street, we went down the stairs.”

Hofmann recalls the Grand Staircase as more than just a way to get to school. It was part of something bigger. Once held on the Stairs each year during commencement week, the Evensong ceremony drew the entire community to L Avenue along the base of the Stairs to watch performances.

“Everybody turned out for that,” Hofmann said. “It was such a connection to the university. Back then, there were the university people and the mill people, and things like Evensong brought them together.”

Though some of those traditions are no longer part of campus life, the sentiment behind them lives on.

From Closure to Comeback

The Staircase was closed in 2004 due to structural issues, but alumni and advocates never gave up hope. Groups like the Friends of the Grand Staircase and the EOU Foundation helped University leaders campaign for funding for over 20 years to address the stairs. In 2022, their efforts paid off when the Oregon Legislature allocated $4 million for its restoration.

Construction began in the fall of 2023, and engineers and preservation experts carefully deconstructed and rebuilt the Staircase. The new version honors the spirit and design of the 1929 original.

“It’s not the exact same Staircase,” Hofmann acknowledged. “But I love it. The finances just weren’t there, and the craftsmanship of that era doesn’t exist anymore. I thank my lucky stars this is done. It’s the result of hard work by a lot of dedicated people.”

(Michael K. Dakota/EOU Photograph)

Stepping Into the Future

Today, the Staircase is open again, and students and the public are already finding ways to incorporate it into their lives.

Walking the steps from town to campus echoes a long tradition. With each step, new memories are created to strengthen the connection between EOU and the La Grande community.

Sally Nusser, who attended EOU in 1960-61 and grew up just four blocks from the Staircase, recalled the music department hosting performances on the steps.

“The graduation ceremony was wonderful, and people gathered to watch,” Nusser said.

To continue the tradition of musical performances on the Staircase, the Grande Ronde Community Band performed at the Ribbon Cutting for the new Staircase and Inlow Hall remodel.

Scott McConnell, dean of the College of Business and co-owner of Side A Brewery, understands firsthand the importance of that connection.

“The Grand Staircase is more than a historic structure—it’s a symbol of connection,” McConnell said. “It reminds us that the university and the community don’t just coexist; they thrive together. As a local business owner, I see its restoration as a sign of renewed energy and shared investment in La Grande’s future.”

“The Staircase exists now,” Hofmann said. “The connection is there. It’s up to the students to decide how they’ll use it—how they’ll make it their own.”