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 ‘City of Missoula’

Leaf Collection Services Begin November 5–Weather Permitting

What should residents do to have their leaves ready for pickup?... more

City’s Annual Chip Seal Program Begins July 17

City of Missoula Street Operations & Maintenance Division crews will be applying liquid asphalt and rock chips to city streets July 17 until around Aug. 7.... more

City Asks Residents to Comply Witn Fireworks Laws

The City of Missoula, along with our partner agencies ask Missoula residents to refrain from the use of fireworks.... more

Leaf Collection Starts Monday, November 7

The City of Missoula’s Street Maintenance & Operations Division crews will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, Nov. 7.... more

Celebration of Mayor John Engen Set for Saturday, Aug. 20

The City of Missoula will hold a celebration of life for Mayor John Engen on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field... more

Missoula City Council Seeks Applicants for Mayor

The Missoula City Council is accepting applications to fill the vacancy for the office of Mayor following Mayor John Engen’s death.... more

Sheep Return to City Open Space, Some Areas Temporarily Closed to Dogs

The City of Missoula’s wooliest employees are back this summer to help with noxious weed control on City Open Space.... more

Missoula Fire Department Saves Spokane Firefighter’s Life

On Dec. 27 at 1:19 a.m., the Missoula Fire Department was dispatched to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) incident.... more

Mount Jumbo Closed for Avalanche Danger

Effective immediately, Mount Jumbo is closed to all public use because of an urban avalanche warning.... more

Public Invited to Marshall Mountain Celebration September 12

Missoula Parks and Recreation invites residents to tour the new Marshall Mountain Park on Sunday, September 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.... more

Spring Cleanup: Street Sweeping Starts Tuesday, March 30

Spring is here, and the City of Missoula’s Street Operations & Maintenance Division will begin its street sweeping schedule on Tuesday, March 30. ... more

Levee Maintenance Work to Begin March 1 Intermittent North Riverfront Trail Section Closures

The City’s Storm Water Utility will begin routine vegetation maintenance on two Clark Fork River levees on Monday, March 1, with completion by April 15, weather dependent... more

Avalanche Danger on Mount Jumbo!

Avalanche danger is present on Mount Jumbo, public urged to stay off the mountain.... more

Leaf Collection Starts Monday, Nov. 2

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Monday, Nov. 2, starting in the neighborhoods north of the Clark Fork River during the first week (Area 1).... more

Missoula Development Officials Optimistic About New Housing Strategy, Report Positive First Results

The Environmental Protection Agency  had recently granted Missoula $1.2 million to clean up several unused properties in the city that they had acquired in recent years.... more

Make the Right Choice – Celebrate the End of Summer With a Sober Ride

Local Law Enforcement and the Montana Highway Patrol will be watching for impaired driving through the Labor Day Weekend.... more

Missoula’s Annual Chip Seal Program at Work

Street maintenance crews will be applying oil and chips to city streets as part of the City’s annual Street Maintenance Chip Seal Program, which runs July 20-Aug. 6.... more

Street Sweeping to Start Monday, April 6

Spring is here, and the City of Missoula Street Maintenance Division will begin its street cleaning schedule on Monday, April 6.... more

Mumford Concert Logistics

The sold-out Mumford & Sons concert at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field the evening of Aug. 11 will draw thousands of fans to Missoula's civic stadium.... more

Missoula’s Annual Chip Seal Program at Work

City of Missoula Street Division crews are hard at work applying oil and chips to city streets in the City’s annual Chip Seal Street Maintenance Program July 22 through Aug. 8.... more

New Community Transportation Plan Set For Implementation Soon

The community of Missoula is determined to make the roads of the city safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.... more

Stage II Fire Restrictions to Begin Friday on City Open Space

By BECKY GOODRICH - Stage II fire restrictions will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday 8/10, on City of Missoula open space and conservation lands, including Mount Sentinel, the North Hills, Mount Jumbo.... more

City Plans Fireworks Law Enforcement

By GINNY MERRIAM - The City of Missoula reminds the public that the use of most fireworks in the city of Missoula is illegal.... more

Be Safe, Be Seen: Bike Light Campaign Underway

Missoula is renewing its efforts to keep people safe when riding bikes at night.... more

Mount Jumbo South Zone Re-Opens March 22

Mount Jumbo’s South Zone, including the Saddle Road and all points south of the road, re-opens to the public on Tuesday, March 22.... more

Super Bowl 50 Extra Patrols

Missoula Police, Highway Patrol and the County Sheriff’s Office, are urging football fans to call the play now: drinking OR driving, not both.... more

Avoid a DUI During the Holiday Crackdown

By TRAVIS WELSH-From Dec.16 through Jan. 2, law enforcement across the state will add extra patrols during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” national crackdown. ... more

Police Dept. Accepting Applications for Citizens’ Law Enforcement Academy

By LAURIE CLARK - The Missoula Police Department is accepting applications for its 2016 Citizens' Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA). ... more

City Discontinues Curbside Pickpup of Storm Debris

With 90 percent of the storm debris cleared, citizens are asked to discontinue placing tree debris from private yards on the boulevards as curbside debris pickup has ended.... more

City of Missoula Storm Updates

Clean-up from Monday’s thunderstorms continues throughout the City.  The City of Missoula would like to remind citizens of the following items: Power has been restored at Splash Montana waterpark. The fa... more

Storm Knocks Out Power in Missoula

By TRAVISH WELSH-A thunder storm with high wind passed through Missoula this evening at about 6:30pm, knocking down power lines and trees, disrupting power to residences and blocking streets. ... more

Learning How the Arts are Being Integrated and Connected in Missoula

By TOM BENSEN -The Washington, DC-based Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) visited Missoula to learn how the arts are being integrated and connected with the Missoula community.... more

BIKEapalooza Kicks Off Sunday Streets Missoula

Celebrate Sunday Streets Missoula on Sunday, July 19, between noon and 4 p.m. on a car-free Higgins Avenue from the red XXXXs on north HIggins Ave.... more

Installation of Ybarra’s Public Art Sculpture Underway at Silver Park

Construction of the new public art piece for Silver Park, George Ybarra’s sculpture “Perseverance and Passage,” has begun.... more

City Plans Fireworks Law Enforcement, Asks for Citizen Cooperation

By TRAVISH WELSH - City leaders ask for cooperation from citizens to help keep Missoula safe in a period of extremely dry and hot weather during the Independence Day holiday.... more

City Imposes Stage 1 Fire Reststrictions Bans All Fireworks

Fire Danger moved to EXTREME on Monday and Stage 1 fire restrictions have been imposed prohibiting use of fire or open flame, including campfires, smoking and the use of fireworks.... more

Emergency Notifications: Smart911 is Your Answer

By NICK HOLLOWAY - The Missoula Office of Emergency Management reminds us: May is National Wildfire Awareness month. Is your family’s ready should a wildfire threaten your property?... more

Top 9 First Friday Shows You Don’t Want to Miss

By MATT ANGLEN - First Friday Art Walk happens every single month in Missoula, come rain, or sleet, or pounding blizzard. Here is our top 9 list of Must See Events:... more

Is Your Family Ready For Wildfire Season?

By NICK HOLLOWAY - The Missoula Office of Emergency Management reminds us: May is National Wildfire Awareness month. Is your family’s ready should a wildfire threaten your property?... more

Downtown Pianos Debut Public Art Friday, May 1

Four Play It Missoula! community pianos will be painted by local artists in the public’s view during First Friday Gallery Night this Friday, May 1 from 5-8 pm in Downtown Missoula.... more

Public Invited to Learn About Downtown Two-Way Traffic Plan

Learn more about the City's study to convert Front and Main Streets back to two-way traffic; TONIGHT Tues., April 14, at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers at 140 W. Pine St.... more

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Evacuations in Missoula County

By NICK HOLLOWAY - During an emergency or a disaster, your family may need to evacuate to a safe location. Take the time now to learn what to do to keep your family safe. ... more

Missoula Public Schools Get a Spark of Creativity

By MATT ANGLEN - SPARK! Arts Ignite Learning is a new program making great strides in our community. ... more

Spring Cleanup: Street Cleaning Starts Tuesday March 31

FYI: The City of Missoula Street Maintenance Division will begin its street cleaning schedule on Tuesday, March 31. Check out the neighborhood map and schedule here.... more

“9-1-1 On Steroids” Can Save Your Life

The Missoula County Office of Emergency Management encourages Missoulians to sign up for new life-saving emergency response program.... more

Office of Emergency Management: Be Prepared, Make a Plan

The Missoula County Office of Emergency Management reminds us to be prepared and to have a plan--including an emergency kit in the event something unexpected occurs.... more

Citizens Urged to Call 911 to Report Mount Jumbo Trespassers

Parks & Rec Reminder: Mount Jumbo is closed for the winter and with the new snowfall Avalanche Danger is HIGH. Cititzens are urged to call 911 to report Trespassers.... more

Missoula City Crews Juggle Leaves and Snow

Snow and ice have arrived during the City's fall leaf collection program, and crews are busy plowing snow and deicing streets and still trying to stick to the leaf pickup schedule.... more

City of Missoula Announces: Leaf Collection Starts Tues., Nov. 4

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 4, starting in the downtown Special District #1. See your neighborhood leaf collection schedule here.... more

All Mountain Water Company Employees Reject City Employment Offer

Employees of Mountain Water Company today rejected the City's offer of employment, saying that they prefer to work for an experienced water system owner that treats them with respect.... more