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

Posts Tagged ‘Montana’

City Brew Controversy Points The Way For Labor Rights

City Brew on Brooks St has been embroiled in a labor rights argument that has stretched now for weeks. ... more

Snow Bear Chalets Launches “The Giving Treehouse” Philanthropic Program to Aid Non-Profits

Recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 World's Greatest Places, Snow Bear Chalets, located on Hope Slope at Whitefish Mountain Resort is partnering with non-profit charities to raise funds for so many in... more

How Climate Change Links to Low Birth Rates

From Glacier National park’s rapidly dissolving glaciers to high water temperatures in trout streams, the effects of a changing climate in Montana is affecting more than just the natural environment – but... more

Boat Carrying Zebra Mussels Stopped at Anaconda Inspection Station

By JOLEEN TADEJ - The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Anaconda watercraft inspection station intercepted a boat carrying zebra mussels Friday. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Oct 3

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Once again the Grizzly defense is among the top in FCS. Among Big Sky teams the Griz has given the fewest first downs and are the top defense against third and fourth conversions.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 26

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzlies got single game record performances out of Jerry Louie McGee and Brady Gustafson, but it wasn't enough for the Griz to get the win at Cal Poly.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 19

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzly football team is off to its seventh 2-0 start since 2000 and in the previous six, the Griz have gone on to average 12 wins a season.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 12

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzly football team is off to its seventh 2-0 start since 2000 and in the previous six, the Griz have gone on to average 12 wins a season.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 5

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The last time a UM team played at the UNI-Dome was when the Griz basketball team played there in November of 2001--and things went really bad for the Griz in the first half of that gam... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 22

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - When Robin Selvig took over the University of Montana women's basketball program it had won 32 games combined in the previous 4 years.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 22

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 15

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 15

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - When Robin Selvig took over the University of Montana women's basketball program it had won 32 games combined in the previous 4 years.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 1

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 1

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to imagine going to game and not seeing Robin Selvig on the sidelines. The last time UM played a women's basketball game without Selvig was March 4, 1978.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | July 25

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - For the first time in recent memories the Lumberjacks of NAU are picked as the pre-season favorite to win the Big Sky Title, a choice made both by both sports writers and coaches.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | July 18

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - For the first time in over half a century the Griz will face the USC Trojans in basketball.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The College World Series title won by Coastal Carolina in June marked the sixth time a school that has faced the Montana Grizzlies football team ( since 1960) has won the College Base... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | July 4

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 27

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - I was delighted with the news last week that former Griz coach and playe,r Blaine Taylor, had gotten back into coaching.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | June 20

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 20

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Missoula Osprey manager Joe Mather is doing something this season that none of the other three managers to guide the O's to a title did, come back the next year.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 13

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Hockey fans everywhere were saddened by the news of the passing of Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, to more than a generation.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 6

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to believe that it was 40 years ago this week that the first Wyoming-Montana all-star games were played.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | June 6

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

New Griz Vision Set for Washington-Grizzly Stadium

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana released the design of the new video display system which will transform the game day experience at Washington-Grizzly Stadium with HD-quality video.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | May 30

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 23

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Later this week another High School sports season comes to an end as track and softball crown their Champions.... more

Missoula Community Band Presents 2016 Summer Band Concerts

The Missoula City Band announces its summer series for 2016. For well over a hundred years, we have been playing fine band music for the public in our open-air concerts.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 16

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to put in perspective the accomplishment of the University of Montana Softball team in reaching the Big Sky Tournament.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Twenty-five years ago this week the 1991 American Legion baseball season began, a season that would see the AA Mavericks claim a state title. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | May 9

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 2

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Few Montana public officials have ever been more closely tied to a sport than the late Conrad Burns. Burns refereed in Montana high School football as well as the Frontier Conference.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Saturday's Grizzly intra-squad scrimmage brought to mind the days under Don Read when the Griz did something similar.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It was 40 years ago this week that Michigan State reached out to Missoula to get their new basketball coach--Jud Heathcote. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 11

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It was thirty years ago this spring when prep softball made its debut in Montana with the first championship held in Cut Bank. ... more

Missoula Spring Fishing Report

By TONY REINHARDT- The new Montana fishing season started in March and it was a great month to be on the water. The Skwala stonefly hatch begins in March. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 4

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The U Conn women's basketball team has posted exactly 100 wins between Jan. 4, 2014 and Tuesday's title game. Over the same span of time the Montana Lady Griz have won 58 games.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | April 4

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 28

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Well it appears that facing a Montana team during the season is good way for Syracuse to get ready for a trip to the final Four.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | March 28

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 21

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- While the 2015-16 season ended a little bit earlier than the Montana Lady Griz would have liked the outstanding group of seniors had an tremendous 4 year run.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 14

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The last time Oregon State was in the NCAA tournament it was March of 1990 and "Pretty Woman" was No. 1 at the box office (a fact I learned from coach Tinkle).... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 7

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Montana Lady Griz open Big Sky Touranament play facing Northern Arizona who struggled to a last place finish in 2016. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 29

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 29

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Lady Griz are going to get plenty of frequent flyer miles in the next 10 days with flights to Grand Forks, Greeley and then Reno for the league tournament.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 22

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more