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 ‘Government’ Category

In Memoriam. Memorial Day May 30, 2011

There is no payment or Thank You that can repay the ultimate sacrifice of sons and daughters who have given their lives in service to America. These men and women have died for civilians, communities and our pe... more

City of Missoula Needs Help to Smooth Things Over

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Missoula has experienced above-average levels of moisture this year, and for some in the city that makes things expensive. The Missoula Public Works Department is tasked with filling potholes... more

A Tale of Two City Plans: Part Two

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Boulder has been experiencing rapid growth for much longer than Missoula, and it has had more time to both learn from its mistakes and battle over-population.... more

A Tale of Two City Plans: Part One

By RYAN NEWHOUSE. Imagine, knowing that we can’t control or predict the future, but we can join together to bring up ideas for what might happen and jointly talk about solutions.There are several ways you ca... 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

Missoula Gets Some Streetscape Love

10/26 Blog by Ryan Newhouse. On October 15, 2010 a ribbon was cut to celebrate the completion of the North Higgins Streetscape project. From Broadway north to Circle Square, the city’s street is now more frie... more

Governor Schweitzer says “Welcome”

Greetings, I am pleased to welcome you to Missoula, one of Big Sky Country’s most dynamic cities.  Tremendous recreational opportunities available year-round and a vibrant downtown social scene make Misso... 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

Vehicle Registration

First-Time Registration The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) requires you to register a vehicle in your name if you have recently: Purchased a new or used vehicle Moved to the state ... 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

Voter Registration

If you're new to Missoula or simply need to register to vote, there are a number of places to in the city to complete your voter registration. As our national laws dictate, U.S. citizens may vote in nati... 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

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