In 1893, the Montana state legislature chartered the University of Montana (UM) in Missoula. When it first opened its doors to students in 1895, UM had no permanent structures. For the first two years, UM held classes in an old school building owned by the city of Missoula. In 1898 after the construction of Main Hall and Science Hall, faculty and students moved to the campus - at the base of Mount Sentinel - that we know today. Over the course of its history, UM developed from a small, frontier college into a comprehensive R1 research institution.
In 2023, the University of Montana History Department and President's Office teamed up to create the Griz130 History Initiative. Griz130 is a multi-year public history project to commemorate the 130-year history of UM.
In the fall of 2023, graduate students in Dr. Eric Zimmer's Exhibit Design & Development course created a digital exhibit, "Grizzlies for Good" to accompany a physical exhibit in the Mansfield Library. Thematically structured, the exhibit sheds light on several of UM's most important alumni, campus traditions, missteps, and more.
In the spring of 2024, undergraduate students in Dr. Leif Fredrickson's Doing Local History course developed a historic walking tour of UM's campus. This tour explores some of the most iconic and lesser known structures and stories of UM's built environment.
In the fall of 2024, undergraduate and graduate students in Dr. Jody Pavilack's Doing Oral History course interviewed campus and community members for the Griz Nation Oral History Project. These oral histories - housed in the Mansfield Archives and Special Collections - provide insight into all things UM athletics. They will inform student research and coursework, and are publicly available for past and future generations of Grizzlies to enjoy!
See student work for Griz130 by clicking on the projects below!
In 2023, the University of Montana History Department and President's Office teamed up to create the Griz130 History Initiative. Griz130 is a multi-year public history project to commemorate the 130-year history of UM.
In the fall of 2023, graduate students in Dr. Eric Zimmer's Exhibit Design & Development course created a digital exhibit, "Grizzlies for Good" to accompany a physical exhibit in the Mansfield Library. Thematically structured, the exhibit sheds light on several of UM's most important alumni, campus traditions, missteps, and more.
In the spring of 2024, undergraduate students in Dr. Leif Fredrickson's Doing Local History course developed a historic walking tour of UM's campus. This tour explores some of the most iconic and lesser known structures and stories of UM's built environment.
In the fall of 2024, undergraduate and graduate students in Dr. Jody Pavilack's Doing Oral History course interviewed campus and community members for the Griz Nation Oral History Project. These oral histories - housed in the Mansfield Archives and Special Collections - provide insight into all things UM athletics. They will inform student research and coursework, and are publicly available for past and future generations of Grizzlies to enjoy!
See student work for Griz130 by clicking on the projects below!
