The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Neighborhoods’ Category

Back to School Walking Safety

As the school year gets underway, it’s great to see more student walking to and from their bus stops and schools but we want to remind parents and drivers to do their part to keep these kids safe. ... more

Take a Walk: The Glacial Lake Missoula High-Water Mark

By KP NICHOLS - 15,000 years ago, Missoula was underwater. Today, you can hike to the highwater mark on Sentinel and Jumbo and use your imagination to fill in the details.... more

Frugal Living: The Art of the Garage Sale

By ERIN TURNER - With its distinct neighborhoods and their close proximity to one other, Missoula's a great garage sale town. Here are some tips for hosting a great sale.... more

You Are What You Love

By ERIN TURNER - In honor of Valentine's Day, here's a list of the things I love about Missoula. Add your favorites in the comments!... more

Holiday Safety Tips to Keep the Season Merry

By DIANE BECK - Holidays are a time of celebration and fun. However, they have the potential to be a time of increased accidents. Here are some safety tips to keep your holiday season merry.... more

The Best Missoula Neighborhood for Trick or Treating Is…

...Grant Creek! Halloween is still alive and well in Missoula, Montana, at least in the Grant Creek neighborhood. Tonight, we enjoyed it for what it is: A celebration of kids being kids, young and old. A cha... more

Paul Queneau Showcases Missoula’s Stunning Fall Foliage

Paul Queneau sent us so many gorgeous fall color photos for his post, Missoula's Fall Colors: The Best Ever?, that we couldn't resist putting them all in one big gallery for you to enjoy.... more

Missoula’s Fall Color: The Best Ever?

By PAUL QUENEAU - I’m just going to say it: This might be the best fall color the Missoula Valley has ever seen. A bold statement, I know, but so are the colors.... more

2011 City Leaf Collection Program Begins in Missoula

Leaf season has arrived. The Street Maintenance Division will begin collecting leaves Monday, Oct. 24. This year, leaf pickup will start in Area 3 of the city, south of the Clark Fork River, west of Russell Str... more

Four Leaf Removal Tools that Clear Yards of Fall Debris

You only need a few essential leaf removal items in your landscape tool collection to accomplish your autumn goal — removing the heavy leaves that smother grass and make your lawn a splotchy mess in spring.... more

Urban Bees in Missoula: Neighbors Against Neighbors While Drafting New Rules

By DANIEL VIEHLAND. UM student and citizen journalist Daniel Viehland reports on the conflict between an urban beekeeper and his neighbors in Missoula. Will it prompt changes to local beekeeping laws?... more

Tips for Avoiding Rental Scams

A trend that has developed in the past several years is for these scammers, most often residing overseas, to skim rental property ads or vacant homes for sale and list them for rent at unbeatable prices. ... more

Renting vs Buying: What You Need to Know

The excitement and energy that Missoula’s University of Montana brings also comes with a tradeoff. As a community, we have far more renters than the national average, making the rental market even more compe... more

Water Damage: 8 Ways to Dry Out and Move On

Thanks to heavy snow pack and a wet spring, many of our Missoula neighbors have been dealing with water. While severe cases of flooding will most likely require professional assistance, homeowners can take step... more

Waters Rising in Western Montana

Every few years or so, it seems that Western Montana is in danger of flooding. Many homeowners combat this problem only when waters start to rise but do little to actually prevent the floods from happening or ... more

Buttercups of My Spring

By VERINA PALMER MARTIN. It seems like a lifetime since I’ve seen Montana during the renewal of spring, which may be because you never really know when spring is going to arrive. It takes Montana a little lo... more

Protecting the Greatest Investment

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetimes. Considering the upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a de... more

Missoula Seeing Spring Thaw in Real Estate!

While spending is still more responsible than it was prior to the crash, consumers are beginning to feel more confident in their financial security. Folks are shopping, and eating out, and even looking for upg... more

Putting Down Roots

Recently, some have suggested that home ownership is detrimental to families because it makes homeowners less mobile and hinders their ability to move for a new job. Not true.... more

Can You Feel the Buzz?

Perhaps it is the chill in the air, the sunshine, or the wrap up of holiday’s spent with families and loved ones, but members of the Missoula community are experiencing an unmistakable buzz in the air.... more

All Real Estate is Local – Even in Montana

We’ve all heard the national news about housing prices plummeting and foreclosure rates soaring. Fortunately, in most of Montana, we have come through without the astounding foreclosure rates and falling home... more

The Year in the Rear-View Mirror

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. From new trails and an additional roundabout to the launch of a new streets festival and record ridership, Missoula saw lots of bikes, lots of bus riders and lots of footpaths in 2010. Here’... more

Missoula Needs Snow Angels

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. As snow has finally blanketed the streets, trails and sidewalks of Missoula, the City and the Bicycle-Pedestrian Program Manager are asking everyone to do their part to keep the sidewalks in ... more

Pleasing Your Palate in Missoula

Hungry? You'll be able to satisfy just about any craving in Missoula! Whether it's a casual meal for the family, a fine dining experience, or dessert after a concert or play, Missoula offers a wealth of opt... more

Missoula History

The first inhabitants of the Missoula area were Native Americans from the Salish tribe.  They called the area “Nemissoolatakoo,” which translates roughly to “river of ambush," and eventually gave rise to... more

Living with Wildlife

Residing in Western Montana means learning to live with wildlife. In Missoula, that often includes sharing your yard with birds, raccoons, skunks, deer, black bears, and even mountain lions. The Montana Depa... more

Pet Licenses

Have pets? City and county ordinances require all dogs four months and older to be licensed. Licenses are timed to run concurrently with dog’s rabies vaccinations. New residents must purchase a dog license... more

Volunteer Opportunities

Missoula is known for its giving spirit. On a per capita basis, Missoula is home to more non-profit organizations than any other city in the nation. That means volunteer opportunities abound. ... more

Cycling City

If you spend any time in Missoula, you'll notice lots of bikes on road. Cycling is a way of life for many residents of the city. Missoula’s biking heritage can be traced back to 1976 when a group of 4 Ohio... more

Missoula in Motion

Missoulians embrace green living and you'll find sustainable transportation options readily available in the city. Missoula in Motion aims to promote the city’s popular sustainable transportation system and i... more