Explore the real-world places that appear in In Her Defense by Kate Wilhelm. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Lane County Courthouse, University of Oregon Campus, Downtown Eugene Law Offices, Eugene Police Department, Willamette River and 5 more.
125 E 8th Avenue — Where Barbara Holloway practices law
Barbara Holloway, the defense attorney protagonist, frequently appears in this courthouse defending clients in criminal cases. The building serves as the backdrop for many of her legal battles, where she uses her sharp intellect and unconventional methods to fight for justice. Her father Frank, also a lawyer, has decades of history within these walls.
The Lane County Courthouse was built in 1958, replacing an earlier 1898 structure. It has served as the center of legal proceedings for Lane County, handling both criminal and civil cases for the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area.
The courthouse continues to operate as Lane County's primary judicial facility, housing multiple courtrooms, judicial offices, and support services. It remains an active center for legal proceedings in the region.
Visit: Lane County Courthouse (landmark)
1585 E 13th Avenue — Academic connections and research
The University of Oregon often provides important background research and expert testimony for Barbara's cases. She frequently consults with professors and researchers here, using the university's resources to build her defense strategies. The campus connections prove crucial in uncovering evidence and understanding complex technical aspects of her cases.
Founded in 1876, the University of Oregon is the state's flagship public university. The campus has grown significantly over the decades, becoming a major research institution and one of Eugene's defining features.
The University of Oregon remains a major research university with over 20,000 students. The campus features historic buildings alongside modern facilities, and continues to be a center of learning and research in the Pacific Northwest.
Visit: University of Oregon (landmark)
Broadway & Olive Street area — Barbara's professional world
This area houses various law offices where Barbara Holloway conducts her practice. She meets with clients, reviews case files, and strategizes her defense approaches in these professional spaces. The downtown legal district provides the setting for many crucial conversations and decisions that drive the plot forward.
Eugene's downtown core developed in the late 19th century as the city's commercial and professional center. The area around Broadway has long housed law offices, banks, and other professional services serving the Willamette Valley.
Downtown Eugene remains the city's business and cultural center, with a mix of historic buildings housing law offices, restaurants, shops, and cultural venues. The area has undergone revitalization efforts while maintaining its historic character.
300 Country Club Road — Investigation headquarters
Barbara often finds herself at odds with the Eugene Police Department as she investigates cases and challenges their conclusions. She conducts interviews here, reviews police reports, and sometimes confronts officers whose investigations she believes were flawed or incomplete. The tension between Barbara's defense work and police procedures creates significant conflict.
The Eugene Police Department was established in 1862 and has served the city through various headquarters locations. The current facility represents the modern era of law enforcement in the Eugene area.
The Eugene Police Department continues to serve the city of Eugene and surrounding areas, providing law enforcement services and working with other agencies in criminal investigations and community safety.
Flowing through Eugene — Scenic backdrop and reflection space
The Willamette River provides a contemplative setting where Barbara often walks and thinks through her cases. The riverbanks serve as a place for important conversations between characters and moments of reflection when Barbara needs to process complex legal and ethical dilemmas. The natural setting contrasts with the urban legal environment.
The Willamette River has been central to Eugene's development since its founding. Native American tribes lived along its banks for thousands of years before European-American settlement in the 1840s brought agriculture and later industry to the river valley.
The Willamette River remains a central feature of Eugene, with parks, bike paths, and recreational opportunities along its banks. The river corridor provides green space and outdoor recreation for residents and visitors.
Visit: Willamette River Parks (park)
100 W 10th Avenue — Research and investigation
Barbara frequently uses the public library for legal research, particularly when building cases that require historical precedents or specialized knowledge. She spends long hours here reviewing documents, newspaper archives, and legal references that help her construct her defense strategies and uncover crucial details for her clients.
The Eugene Public Library system was established in 1906, with the main library moving to various locations before settling at its current downtown site. It has served as a community resource and research center for over a century.
The Eugene Public Library continues to serve the community with a modern facility offering books, digital resources, community programs, and public internet access. It remains a vital resource for research and learning.
Visit: Eugene Public Library (library)
Cheshire & 2nd Avenue — Overlook and contemplation spot
This prominent hill offers Barbara a place to gain perspective, both literally and figuratively, on her cases. She sometimes brings clients or meets with other characters here when she needs privacy for sensitive conversations. The elevated view of Eugene provides a symbolic vantage point for seeing the bigger picture in complex legal matters.
Skinner Butte is named after Eugene Skinner, one of the city's founders who built his cabin on the hill in 1846. The butte has served as a landmark and gathering place throughout Eugene's history, with various structures built on its summit over the years.
Skinner Butte Park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and panoramic views of Eugene and the Willamette Valley. The historic Skinner Butte Bridge connects the downtown area, and the park remains a popular recreational destination.
Visit: Skinner Butte Park (park)
East of Eugene — Extended investigation territory
Barbara's investigations sometimes take her to Springfield, Eugene's neighboring city, where she interviews witnesses, visits crime scenes, or tracks down leads related to her cases. The working-class community provides a different social context that influences her understanding of her clients' backgrounds and circumstances.
Springfield was incorporated in 1885 and developed as a lumber mill town along the McKenzie River. It grew as a blue-collar community complementing Eugene's more academic character, with timber and manufacturing driving its early economy.
Springfield remains a separate city adjacent to Eugene, known for its connection to 'The Simpsons' creator Matt Groening, who grew up there. The city has diversified its economy while maintaining its working-class character.
296 E 5th Avenue — Meeting place and community hub
Barbara occasionally meets clients or other characters at this bustling market, using the public setting to conduct informal interviews or sensitive conversations where they can blend into the crowd. The market's atmosphere provides cover for discrete meetings and represents the community Barbara serves.
The 5th Street Public Market opened in 1976 in a renovated feed and grain warehouse, becoming one of Eugene's early downtown revitalization projects. It helped establish the model for transforming old industrial buildings into mixed-use commercial spaces.
The market continues to operate as a shopping and dining destination in downtown Eugene, featuring local businesses, restaurants, and specialty shops. It remains a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors.
Visit: 5th Street Public Market (landmark)
2200 Summit Avenue — Quiet meeting place
This peaceful park serves as a location where Barbara can meet privately with clients or witnesses who prefer discretion. The rhododendron garden and secluded paths provide an appropriate setting for sensitive conversations away from the formal legal environment, allowing her to build trust and gather crucial testimony.
Hendricks Park was established in 1906 and is one of Eugene's oldest parks. It became famous for its rhododendron garden, planted beginning in the 1950s, which now contains one of the largest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas in the Pacific Northwest.
The park remains a beloved local destination, particularly during rhododendron blooming season in spring. It offers hiking trails, the historic rhododendron garden, and serves as a quiet retreat from urban life.
Visit: Hendricks Park (park)
More by Kate Wilhelm: All Kate Wilhelm books
Other nearby maps: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner locations map