Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

The Oldest Electronically Lit School Emblem in the World

Wednesday, 12th October 2005 by Alex

Perched on the side of Mount Zion in Colorado is a giant ‘M’ for the Colorado School of Mines. The school claims that it is the ‘largest electronically-lit school emblem in the world’, a claim which is disputed by Brigham Young University, whose giant illuminated ‘Y’ is clearly much larger.

However, the M is definitely older, and has also been lighted for a good thirty years longer – so Colorado is entitled to lay claim to having the ‘oldest electronically lit school emblem in the world’ . . . if they wanted to that is.

School of Mines \'M\'

Thanks to Andrew G. Milmoe, Cyndi Wheeler, Timothy, Keith Maxon, Skor Grimm and Charles Christensen

3 Responses to 'The Oldest Electronically Lit School Emblem in the World'

  1. 1. Laura Moncur says:

    Here is the U on the mountain for the University of Utah:

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

    It’s hard to tell, but I think some people with tape measures should be going up there before they start making claims like “biggest.” The U lights up on nights when there is a game and flashes when they win it.

    BYU students were arrested about 16 years ago for going up there and painting it blue (BYU’s school color). They vastly misjudged the size, however, and only got a small corner of it painted before they were apprehended.

  2. 2. Dave says:

    My parents love telling this story: once when I was very little my parents were on a bus tour in Colorado. As they were passing the big M on the mountain, the tour guide asked if anyone knew what the M stood for. I happened, in that moment, to wail out “Mommmmy!!!!”

    Everyone laughed.

  3. 3. frank says:

    great story dave……….

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