The iconic M Hill has showcased the School of Mines in Rapid City for more than 100 years, but it's not the first large letter to be displayed prominently in a college town.

The tradition began in 1905 when University of California, Berkeley students constructed a big “C” on a hill overlooking campus. Fifty years later, University of California, Riverside students made their own.

Other schools with the tradition include an “M” at the Colorado School of Mines and University of Wisconsin-Platteville, a “Y” at Brigham Young University in Utah and an “A” for when Colorado State University’s nickname was the Aggies.

Rapid City's M Hill was built in 1912 by faculty and students who used more than 100 wagonloads of rock. Ten years later, it was replaced with concrete. The “S” and “D” were added in 1953. Students hike up the hill during homecoming to clean the “M”.

Sources

South Dakota Mines, M Hill UC Riverside, A tale of two campuses and the Big ‘C’ BYU History, The story of ‘Y’ Mountain University of Wisconsin-Platteville, The Platteville Mound of the 'M' Colorado School of Mines, M Climb Colorado State University, 100-year tradition

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