List of hillside letters

This is a list of hillside letters (also known as mountain monograms), large geoglyphs found primarily in the Western United States.[1][2][3] There are about 600 in total, but the status of many of these symbols are uncertain, due to vagueness in sources.

Hillside monogram on Signal Hill in Gunnison, Colorado, as seen from U.S. Hwy 50 entering the town
Distribution of hillside letters in the Western United States

The states with the most hillside letters are:

United States

Arizona

California

Colorado

At least 29 monograms, possibly 31.

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
AFort CollinsColorado State University (formerly the Aggies)40.561°N 105.151°W / 40.561; -105.151 (Colorado State University)
BBranson37.0092°N 103.8815°W / 37.0092; -103.8815 (Branson)
CCañon City38.443°N 105.25°W / 38.443; -105.25 (Cañon City)
DDel Norte37.6719°N 106.3588°W / 37.6719; -106.3588 (Del Norte)
DDinosaur40.2463°N 109.0064°W / 40.2463; -109.0064 (Dinosaur)
F FruitaFruita Monument High School 39.1334524°N 108.7336039°W / 39.1334524; -108.7336039 (Fruita)
GGolden39.7521°N 105.2066°W / 39.7521; -105.2066 (Golden)
GVParachuteGrand Valley High School39.461°N 108.0542°W / 39.461; -108.0542 (Grand Valley High School)
GMLakewoodGreen Mountain High School39.6964°N 105.1444°W / 39.6964; -105.1444 (Green Mountain High School)
GGunnison38.551°N 106.9144°W / 38.551; -106.9144 (Gunnison)
HHotchkiss38.7923°N 107.7008°W / 38.7923; -107.7008 (Hotchkiss)
LVLa Veta37.5224°N 105.007°W / 37.5224; -105.007 (La Veta)
LHSSoprisLincoln High School37.1308°N 104.5724°W / 37.1308; -104.5724 (Sopris)
LLoma39.1894°N 108.843°W / 39.1894; -108.843 (Loma)
LLyons40.2095°N 105.2656°W / 40.2095; -105.2656 (Lyons)
MGoldenColorado School of Mines39.7453°N 105.24°W / 39.7453; -105.24 (Colorado School of Mines)
MManassa37.1564°N 105.9323°W / 37.1564; -105.9323 (Manassa)
MMontrose38.4783°N 107.8762°W / 38.4783; -107.8762 (Montrose)
P (uncertain existence)Pagosa Springs37.2677°N 107.01°W / 37.2677; -107.01 (Pagosa Springs) (uncertain location)
PPalisade39.0914°N 108.3474°W / 39.0914; -108.3474 (Palisade)
PPaonia38.8596°N 107.5976°W / 38.8596; -107.5976 (Paonia)
PWestonPrimero High School37.1241°N 104.7936°W / 37.1241; -104.7936 (Weston)
R (uncertain existence)Rifle39.5301°N 107.7832°W / 39.5301; -107.7832 (Rifle) (uncertain location)
SSaguache38.0837°N 106.1287°W / 38.0837; -106.1287 (Saguache)
SSalida38.541°N 105.9876°W / 38.541; -105.9876 (Salida)
SAN LUIS OLDEST TOWN IN COLO.San Luis37.2004°N 105.4281°W / 37.2004; -105.4281 (San Luis)
SSanford37.2487°N 105.8°W / 37.2487; -105.8 (Sanford)
SANTA MARIASanta Maria39.4524°N 105.6307°W / 39.4524; -105.6307 (Santa Maria)
SHSSheridanSheridan High School39.639°N 105.0287°W / 39.639; -105.0287 (Sheridan High School)
SSilverton37.8177°N 107.6644°W / 37.8177; -107.6644 (Silverton)
SLWestminsterStandley Lake High School39.8844°N 105.0971°W / 39.8844; -105.0971 (Standley Lake High School)
WGunnisonWestern Colorado University38.5274°N 106.9084°W / 38.5274; -106.9084 (Western State College)

Idaho

Maryland

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
MVGCMontgomery VillageInitialism of "Montgomery Village Golf Club"[4]39.1817904°N 77.1995232°W / 39.1817904; -77.1995232 (Gaithersburg)

Montana

Nevada

New Mexico

At least 30 monograms, possibly 37

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
AAlamogordo32.9002°N 105.911°W / 32.9002; -105.911 (Alamogordo)
AAztec36.8357°N 108.0091°W / 36.8357; -108.0091 (Aztec)
AAggies32.292978°N 106.697936°W / 32.292978; -106.697936 (Las Cruces)
BBernalillo35.3209°N 106.5295°W / 35.3209; -106.5295 (Bernalillo)
BBloomfield36.7263°N 107.9799°W / 36.7263; -107.9799 (Bloomfield)
CCapitan33.5373°N 105.584°W / 33.5373; -105.584 (Capitan)
CCimarron36.4992°N 104.9222°W / 36.4992; -104.9222 (Cimarron)
CCostilla36.9888°N 105.5132°W / 36.9888; -105.5132 (Costilla)
EEl Rito36.36°N 106.1801°W / 36.36; -106.1801 (El Rito)
E (uncertain existence)Espanola35.9905°N 106.08°W / 35.9905; -106.08 (Espanola) (uncertain location)
FFarmington36.7637°N 108.1909°W / 36.7637; -108.1909 (Farmington)
GGrants35.1685°N 107.864°W / 35.1685; -107.864 (Grants) (uncertain location)
HLas VegasNew Mexico Highlands University35.5905°N 105.2059°W / 35.5905; -105.2059 (New Mexico Highlands University)
HHondo33.3833°N 105.2537°W / 33.3833; -105.2537 (Hondo)
KSKirtlandKirtland Street High School36.7591°N 108.3729°W / 36.7591; -108.3729 (Kirtland Central High School)
LALagunaLaguna-Acoma35.0537°N 107.4387°W / 35.0537; -107.4387 (Laguna-Acoma)
LLordsburg32.3287°N 108.7268°W / 32.3287; -108.7268 (Lordsburg)
LALos Alamos35.9°N 106.3329°W / 35.9; -106.3329 (Los Alamos)
LLLos Lunas34.807°N 106.7914°W / 34.807; -106.7914 (Los Lunas)
L (uncertain existence)Lyden36.1463°N 106.0056°W / 36.1463; -106.0056 (Lyden) (uncertain location)
MMagdalena34.0949°N 107.2512°W / 34.0949; -107.2512 (Magdalena)
MVOjo CalienteMesa Vista High School36.3315°N 106.0391°W / 36.3315; -106.0391 (Mesa Vista High School)
M (uncertain existence)Mora35.974°N 105.3287°W / 35.974; -105.3287 (Mora) (uncertain location)
ALas CrucesNew Mexico State University Aggies32.2926°N 106.699°W / 32.2926; -106.699 (New Mexico State University Aggies)
MSocorroNew Mexico Tech Miners34.0723°N 106.9594°W / 34.0723; -106.9594 (New Mexico Tech Miners)
NNewcombNewcomb Elementary School36.282207°N 108.711151°W / 36.282207; -108.711151 (Newcomb High School)
NNewcombNewcomb Middle School36.278943°N 108.712849°W / 36.278943; -108.712849 (Newcomb Middle School)
PPenasco36.1765°N 105.6845°W / 36.1765; -105.6845 (Penasco)
PPojoaque35.892°N 106.021°W / 35.892; -106.021 (Pojoaque)
QQuesta36.7099°N 105.5693°W / 36.7099; -105.5693 (Questa)
RLas VegasRobertson High School35.5805°N 105.2025°W / 35.5805; -105.2025 (Robertson High School)
X (uncertain existence)Santa Fe35.6813°N 105.9467°W / 35.6813; -105.9467 (Santa Fe) (uncertain location)
S (uncertain existence)Shiprock36.7907°N 108.6828°W / 36.7907; -108.6828 (Shiprock) (uncertain location)
JAlbuquerqueSt. Joseph's College (closed)35.1414°N 106.7714°W / 35.1414; -106.7714 (St. Joseph's College (closed))
TTruth or Consequences33.1191°N 107.2275°W / 33.1191; -107.2275 (Truth or Consequences)
TTohatchiTohatchi High School35.855677°N 108.747394°W / 35.855677; -108.747394 (Tohatchi High School)
TTucumcari35.1345°N 103.7°W / 35.1345; -103.7 (Tucumcari)
U (no longer exists)AlbuquerqueUniversity of New Mexico35.0812°N 106.4816°W / 35.0812; -106.4816 (University of New Mexico)
WMWagon Mound36.0051°N 104.7019°W / 36.0051; -104.7019 (Wagon Mound)
DLas VegasWest Las Vegas High School Dons35.5893°N 105.2047°W / 35.5893; -105.2047 (West Las Vegas High School Dons)
WSilver CityWestern New Mexico University32.8272°N 108.2489°W / 32.8272; -108.2489 (Western New Mexico University)

Oregon

Texas

Texas' 16 or more monograms are all in the westernmost mountainous, part of the state. There are six (in various states of repair) in El Paso alone, the most in any single city in the United States.

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
AAlpine30.3527°N 103.6564°W / 30.3527; -103.6564 (Alpine)
AEl PasoAustin High School31.7998°N 106.474°W / 31.7998; -106.474 (Austin High School)
BBalmorhea30.9757°N 103.7199°W / 30.9757; -103.7199 (Balmorhea)
B/EEl PasoBowie High School31.7861°N 106.4796°W / 31.7861; -106.4796 (Bowie High School)
C (removed?)El PasoCathedral High School31.7928°N 106.4813°W / 31.7928; -106.4813 (Cathedral High School)
E/BEl PasoEl Paso High School31.7867°N 106.4803°W / 31.7867; -106.4803 (El Paso High School)
FDFort Davis30.5784°N 103.893°W / 30.5784; -103.893 (Fort Davis)
I?Iraan30.8999°N 101.8983°W / 30.8999; -101.8983 (Iraan)
JEl PasoJefferson High School31.7865°N 106.4783°W / 31.7865; -106.4783 (Jefferson High School)
MMarathon30.208006°N 103.222237°W / 30.208006; -103.222237 (Marathon)
M (uncertain existence)Marfa30.3088°N 104.0207°W / 30.3088; -104.0207 (Marfa) (uncertain location)
MMcCamey31.0998°N 102.1555°W / 31.0998; -102.1555 (McCamey)
P (uncertain existence)Presidio29.5644°N 104.3689°W / 29.5644; -104.3689 (Presidio) (uncertain location)
SSanderson30.1467°N 102.4004°W / 30.1467; -102.4004 (Sanderson)
SShafter29.8219°N 104.3041°W / 29.8219; -104.3041 (Shafter)
SBSierra Blanca31.1878°N 105.3495°W / 31.1878; -105.3495 (Sierra Blanca)
SRAlpineSul Ross State University30.3662°N 103.6474°W / 30.3662; -103.6474 (Sul Ross State University)
SAFETY FIRST!Iraan30°53′58″N 101°53′44″W
MEl PasoUTEP Miners31.7767°N 106.5088°W / 31.7767; -106.5088 (UTEP Miners)
VVan Horn31.0585°N 104.8606°W / 31.0585; -104.8606 (Van Horn)

Utah

Washington

Most of Washington's 18 to 19 monograms are in the arid Eastern part of the state.

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
#7Ephrata47.3204°N 119.5714°W / 47.3204; -119.5714 (Ephrata)
AAsotin46.3407°N 117.0594°W / 46.3407; -117.0594 (Asotin)
BBurlington48.4827°N 122.325°W / 48.4827; -122.325 (Burlington)
CCashmere47.5294°N 120.4678°W / 47.5294; -120.4678 (Cashmere)
CClarkston46.45°N 117.047°W / 46.45; -117.047 (Clarkston)
CColville48.5631°N 117.9009°W / 48.5631; -117.9009 (Colville)
CCreston47.7449°N 118.5289°W / 47.7449; -118.5289 (Creston)
EEast Wenatchee47.4428°N 120.2824°W / 47.4428; -120.2824 (East Wenatchee)
FOSSTacomaFoss High School47.236°N 122.4937°W / 47.236; -122.4937 (Foss High School)
GGoldendale45.8016°N 120.7957°W / 45.8016; -120.7957 (Goldendale)
KKelso46.1475°N 122.8962°W / 46.1475; -122.8962 (Kelso)
KFKettle Falls48.6164°N 118.04°W / 48.6164; -118.04 (Kettle Falls)
KKlickitat45.8143°N 121.1493°W / 45.8143; -121.1493 (Klickitat)
LUnion GapLa Salle High School46.5317°N 120.4639°W / 46.5317; -120.4639 (La Salle High School)
OKOkanogan48.3658°N 119.5876°W / 48.3658; -119.5876 (Okanogan)
RRichland46.2364°N 119.3126°W / 46.2364; -119.3126 (Richland)
RRosalia47.228168°N 117.375771°W / 47.228168; -117.375771 (Rosalia)
SSelah46.631846°N 120.529443°W / 46.631846; -120.529443 (Selah)
T (uncertain existence)Touchet

Wyoming

Between 24 and 25 monograms

Monogram Town Description Coordinates
BBurlington44.466°N 108.4315°W / 44.466; -108.4315 (Burlington)
CCody44.5262°N 109.101°W / 44.5262; -109.101 (Cody)
DDouglas42.7524°N 105.3615°W / 42.7524; -105.3615 (Douglas)
EEvanston41.2583°N 110.9559°W / 41.2583; -110.9559 (Evanston)
FFairview42.6807°N 111.0112°W / 42.6807; -111.0112 (Fairview)
FORT WASHAKIEFort Washakie43.0132°N 108.8805°W / 43.0132; -108.8805 (Fort Washakie)
GGlenrock42.8585°N 105.8511°W / 42.8585; -105.8511 (Glenrock)
GRGreen River41.5147°N 109.4796°W / 41.5147; -109.4796 (Green River)
GGreybull44.5°N 108.0742°W / 44.5; -108.0742 (Greybull)
GGuernsey42.2644°N 104.7335°W / 42.2644; -104.7335 (Guernsey)
H (uncertain existence)Hartville42.3272°N 104.7272°W / 42.3272; -104.7272 (Hartville) (uncertain location)
WORLDS LARGEST MINERAL HOT SPRINGThermopolisHot Springs State Park43.6562°N 108.1929°W / 43.6562; -108.1929 (Hot Springs State Park)
KKemmererThis is an old location see below41.7929°N 110.5265°W / 41.7929; -110.5265 (Kemmerer)
K Kemmerer The new location. 41.788611°N 110.529444°W
LLovell44.825629°N 108.297097°W / 44.825629; -108.297097 (Lovell)
MMeeteetse44.1526°N 108.8703°W / 44.1526; -108.8703 (Meeteetse)
MMeeteetse44.1526°N 108.8703°W / 44.1526; -108.8703 (Meeteetse)
MVMountain View41.2620°N 110.3408°W / 41.2620; -110.3408 (Rawlins)
RBasinRiverside High School44.3797°N 108.0575°W / 44.3797; -108.0575 (Riverside High School)
RSRock Springs41.6°N 109.2136°W / 41.6; -109.2136 (Rock Springs)
*AftonStar Valley42.7302°N 110.9118°W / 42.7302; -110.9118 (Star Valley)
SSunrise42.3307°N 104.7149°W / 42.3307; -104.7149 (Sunrise)
TTen Sleep44.0448°N 107.4467°W / 44.0448; -107.4467 (Ten Sleep)
TThermopolis43.655°N 108.2064°W / 43.655; -108.2064 (Thermopolis)
WLaramieUniversity of Wyoming41.3287°N 105.5721°W / 41.3287; -105.5721 (University of Wyoming)
WWorland44.0109°N 108.0055°W / 44.0109; -108.0055 (Worland)
WBS McNutt Wyoming Boys' School

Other states

The "M" in Platteville, Wisconsin, lit by lanterns during the annual "M" Ball
"C" Rock on the Harlem River, symbol of the Columbia University rowing team
Monogram Town State Description Coordinates
DAYTONA BEACH LPGA BLVDDaytona BeachFlorida29.2195°N 81.1035°W / 29.2195; -81.1035 (Daytona Beach)
PALM BAYPalm BayFlorida28.0356°N 80.6574°W / 28.0356; -80.6574 (Palm Bay)
LLahainaHawaii20.8876°N 156.6415°W / 20.8876; -156.6415 (Lahaina)
KSManhattanKansasKansas State University
(K built in 1921)
39.172°N 96.5522°W / 39.172; -96.5522 (Kansas State University)
MANHATTANManhattanKansasManhattan
(built in 1927)
39.19245°N 96.56281°W / 39.19245; -96.56281 (Kansas State University)
OPOcean PinesMaryland38.3851°N 75.1782°W / 38.3851; -75.1782 (Ocean Pines)
NBNew BedfordMassachusetts(Built 2010's)41.6383°N 70.9247°W / 41.6383; -70.9247 (New Bedford)
CChadronNebraska42.8152°N 103.0028°W / 42.8152; -103.0028 (Chadron)
POTTERPotterNebraska41.2041°N 103.3128°W / 41.2041; -103.3128 (Potter)
VALENTINEValentineNebraska42.855412°N 100.541937°W / 42.855412; -100.541937 (Valentine)
CNew York City (Manhattan)New YorkColumbia University40.8761°N 73.919°W / 40.8761; -73.919 (Columbia University)
HOWE CAVERNSCobleskillNew YorkHowe Caverns42.6956°N 74.3989°W / 42.6956; -74.3989 (Howe Caverns)
M (uncertain existence)PoughkeepsieNew YorkMarist College41.7212°N 73.9477°W / 41.7212; -73.9477 (Marist College) (uncertain location)
AAlexanderNorth Dakota47.8295°N 103.6376°W / 47.8295; -103.6376 (Alexander)
HOME ON THE RANGEBeachNorth DakotaHome on the Range Ranch46.9435°N 103.8693°W / 46.9435; -103.8693 (Home on the Range Ranch)
K (uncertain existence)KenmareNorth Dakota48.6764°N 102.0814°W / 48.6764; -102.0814 (Kenmare) (uncertain location)
MANDANMandanNorth Dakota46.8336°N 100.8712°W / 46.8336; -100.8712 (Mandan)
PRICEPriceNorth Dakota47.0818°N 100.9432°W / 47.0818; -100.9432 (Price)
ZZapNorth Dakota47.2793°N 101.9328°W / 47.2793; -101.9328 (Zap)
AKRONAkronOhio41.0403°N 81.4572°W / 41.0403; -81.4572 (Akron)[5]
HOBANAkronOhioArchbishop Hoban High School41.0622°N 81.498°W / 41.0622; -81.498 (Archbishop Hoban High School)[5]
LAZY S RANCHSpringerOklahomaLazy S Ranch34.349°N 97.1424°W / 34.349; -97.1424 (Lazy S Ranch)
WELCOME TO HERSHEYHersheyPennsylvaniaHersheypark40.2941°N 76.6623°W / 40.2941; -76.6623 (Hershey Park)
HSpearfishSouth DakotaBlack Hills State College44.5073°N 103.851°W / 44.5073; -103.851 (Black Hills State College)
SMDRapid CitySouth DakotaSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology (M-Hill)44.0883°N 103.2494°W / 44.0883; -103.2494 (S. D. School of Mines & Technology)
Σ ΦRapid CitySouth DakotaSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology Fraternal Organizations (Smelter Hill)44.070798°N 103.201329°W / 44.070798; -103.201329 (S. D. School of Mines & Technology)
LULynchburgVirginiaLiberty University37.3595°N 79.1597°W / 37.3595; -79.1597 (Liberty University)
St. Marys SpringsFond du LacWisconsinSt. Mary's Springs High School43.7847°N 88.3847°W / 43.7847; -88.3847 (St. Mary's Springs High School)
MPlattevilleWisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin-Platteville (formerly the Miners)42.7636°N 90.4066°W / 42.7636; -90.4066 (University of Wisconsin-Platteville)

More countries

Monogram Town Country Description Coordinates
LONGVIEWLongview, AlbertaCanada50.5437°N 114.2189°W / 50.5437; -114.2189 (Longview)
113 51 137 151Calgary, AlbertaCanadaMilitary memorials in Battalion Park51.021°N 114.173°W / 51.021; -114.173 (Signal Hill)
MOUNT PANORAMABathurstAustraliaMount Panorama Circuit (and surrounding neighbourhood)33.455°S 149.552°E / -33.455; 149.552 (Mount Panorama Circuit)
NZBulfordUnited KingdomWriting beneath the Bulford Kiwi51°11′38.84″N 001°42′54.20″W
ZWythenshaweUnited KingdomTwo "Z"s on the A5103 roundabout
주체 조선의 태양 김정은 장군 만세!Ryanggang ProvinceNorth Korea"Long Live General Kim Jong-un the Shining Sun!"41.3084°N 128.1575°E / 41.3084; 128.1575
JESUCRISTO ES EL SEÑORTijuanaMexico32.4753°N 116.9°W / 32.4753; -116.9
COJUAREZ LA BIBLIA ES LA VERDAD LEELACiudad JuárezMexico31.7047°N 106.5189°W / 31.7047; -106.5189
BMexico CityMexicoEl Centro Escolar Benemérito de las Américas19.539°N 99.1602°W / 19.539; -99.1602
X (no longer exists)LimaPeruAte District, above the Estadio Monumental12.052°S 76.9346°W / -12.052; -76.9346
Q (no longer exists)LimaPeruJuventud Torre Blanca football club?12.0014°S 76.9927°W / -12.0014; -76.9927
GBCape TownSouth Africa34.168362°S 18.861338°E / -34.168362; 18.861338

Messages are common on the bare mountains surrounding Lima, Peru; most of them are personal graffiti, not community symbols.

See also

  • Gozan no Okuribi, Japanese festival involving giant hillside bonfires in the shape of characters

Notes

  1. Corning, Evelyn (2007). Hillside Letters A to Z : A Guide to Hometown Landmarks. Missoula, Mont.: Mountain Press Publishing Company.
  2. Rocha, Guy (June 2004), "Hillside Letters: In Plain Sight But Not Intended for Planes", Sierra Sage, archived from the original on 2011-07-22, retrieved 2011-08-09
  3. Parsons, James J. (1988). "Hillside Letters in the Western United States". Landscape. Santa Fe, N.M. 30 (1): 15–23. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  4. https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1817904,-77.1995232,3a,22.2y,93.84h,88.61t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8GoXAxBp_dAU4iKaV_lELw!2e0!5s20120901T000000!7i13312!8i6656
  5. Price, Mark J. (2022-08-08). "Will Central Interchange project spoil view of Hoban letters?". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
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