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 ‘Missoula Nightlife’

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 30

Live Music in various venues all over town. HAPPY NEW YEAR Missoula!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 23

Live Music in various venues all over town including Nathan Eyre, David Baty, Band in Motion, and Larry Hirshberg. And check out the ECHO Christmas Eve Service at City Life Community Center.... more

Master Silversmith Haddon Hufford

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Lost wax casting. Synclastic raising. Anticlasting raising. Hollow construction. Haddon Hufford speaks the vernacular of the silversmith with a lexicon centuries old. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 16

Live Music in various venues all over town including John Floridis' Christmas Benefit Concert for the Poverello Center, Community U-Nite at the Kettlehouse to support Zootown Arts Community Center and and more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 9

Live Music in various venues all over town and Feed the Zoo Fundraiser at Sean Kelly's for the Missoula Food Bank--featuring live music from a variety of bands as well as a raffle and more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 2

Live Music in various venues all over town, Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5 K, Tour of Trees Fundraiser, the 11th Annual Parade of Lights in Downtown Missoula, and much more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 25

Live Music in various venues all over town, Turkey Day 8K and 3K Fun Run starting at McCormick Park. HAPPY THANKSGIVING MISSOULA!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 18

Happening this week: Live Music in various venues all over town Photos with Santa at the UC Center, Zac Brown at the Adams Center, and much more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 11

Happening this week: Live Music in various venues all over town and the Griz vs Weber State on Saturday at Washington Grizzly Stadium.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 4

Happening this week: Food Fight Trivia & Pint night, Tom Catmull's new CD release concert, Bluegrass, Hip Hop, Jam, and Classical Music in various venues all over town!... more

Celtic Rock n’ Roll Giants, Gaelic Storm Plays in Missoula Nov 3rd

If you've seen the movie Titanic you've seen the Celtic rock n' roll giants, Gaelic Storm perform--and they're playing Missoula at the Wilma Theater on Sunday Nov 3rd.... more

Coming Full Circle in Three Chords

By BOB WIRE- “Can we play Louie Louie? You bet your ass we can play Louie Louie!” In 1984 when I was playing with my first band, Rotten Tuna, we only knew eight songs, and they all sounded like Louie Louie.... more

The MCT 2013-14 Season Opens with SPAMALOT on Nov 8

The Missoula Community Theatre opens the 2013-2014 season with Spamalot, described as one of the greatest Broadway musicals of the modern age.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 28

Happening this week: Catamount, Larry Hirshberg, John Wayne & The Pain, Ted Ness and the Rusty nails, Chris Timmons, Mendelssohn Boston Tea Party, Zeppot MT, Day of the Dead & More!... more

Trick or Treating: How Old is Too Old?

By BOB WIRE- Halloween is upon us. Time to load up on little Butterfingers and remove the bulb from the porch light. Okay, it’s not my favorite holiday. Why? Simple. I’ve outgrown it. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 21

Happening this week: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis at the Adams Center, David Boone at Ten Spoon Vineyard Winery, Picking Circle at the Top Hat Lounge, UM vs E Washington, & More!... more

Hall of Fame Cannot Repel the KISS Army

By BOB WIRE- You may be among those who think the Hall of Fame is silly, irrelevant, phony and stupid. But for rock and roll, it’s the only way to officially enshrine its top practitioners.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 14

Happening this week: UM and Hellgate High School Jazz Band Concert, Tom Catmull, Bouzouki in Irish Music- Rober Landes, Captain Wilson Conspiracy, Antiblus, UM vs Cal Poly, & More!... more

A Casualty in the Practical Joke War

By BOB WIRE- I love a good practical joke. Over the years, sharp-eyed Missoulians have seen me driving around town with a fake foot and lower leg hanging out the bottom of the driver’s door.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 7

Happening this week: James Green, Lunacy and the Moon, Krewella Seven Lions Candyland, EL-30H!, Dave Manning, The World's Largest Garage Sale at UM, and much more!... more

Man Vs. Wasp

By BOB WIRE- At last the story can be told. It’s a tale of horror, pain, insects and payback. And it’s all true.... more

10 Bands That Didn’t Quit When They Should Have

By BOB WIRE- Here, in no particular order, are ten bands that kicked ass for a while and then failed to call it a day when they should have. And one that did.... more

The Local Technique of Missoula Singer Kira Means

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Kira Means is as provincial as a quick trek up Waterworks. She is as local as Brennan’s Wave or a panoramic view of the Clark Fork River. Means is as small-town as Missoula gets.... more

‘Throwing Down’ With Nick Dunbar of Mountain Standard Time

By EVAN CLARK - The 5-piece bluegrass/progressive rock band, Mountain Standard Time, of Nederland, CO, will be performing at the Top Hat Lounge on Aug14th in Missoula. ... more

PLONK Opens its Doors to the Missoula Community

F.Y.I. - Plonk, a new Missoula cocktail lounge, wine bar and restaurant, will officially open its doors Friday, March 29 in the former Army Navy Store location in downtown Missoula. ... more

Spring Break Fun in Missoula: A Few Unique Alternatives

By AARON TRAYLOR - There’s much more to spring break than hitting the bars on Ryman Street. I've got some ideas that range from yoga classes to giving back to the community.... more

Why Does Missoula Seem to Fear Change to Its Nightlife Routine?

By AARON TRAYLOR - From my experience, and from what I hear on the streets, it seems that this town really does not like change in their nightlife routine. Why is that?... more

Thursday Night in Missoula Is the New Friday

By AARON TRAYLOR - With more and more people hitting up bars and clubs before the weekend, Thursday has become the new Friday in Missoula.... more

Missoula is for Lovers

By AARON TRAYLOR - The best spots to meet singles in Missoula.... more

A Guide to Missoula Bars & Nightlife on a Budget

By AARON TRAYLOR - If you've got an evening off that doesn't fall on a Friday or a Saturday, where do you go, what do you do? And how do you do it on a budget? This is where I can help.... more

Missoula New Year’s Eve Parties

By AARON TRAYLOR - Looking for Missoula New Year's parties? There are more options this year than ever before. Here's my top five picks for one final shebang before Armageddon arrives!... more

Why We Drink Champagne on New Year’s Eve

By RYAN NEWHOUSE - I don’t have a clear answer as to why millions of people ring in the New Year with a kiss and a glass of bubbly. But why get bogged down in the details, right? ... more