Colorado is Home to One of the Largest Collegiate Letters on Earth

The mountain town of Gunnison, Colorado is known for being one of the coldest towns in the state, but another man-made spectacle has resulted in the town being recognized for a completely different distinction.

Read More: See Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison as You Never Have |

Keep scrolling to learn about the giant "W" on Tenderfoot Mountain and why it's recognized not just on a national scale, but globally.

History of Gunnison Colorado's Giant Collegiate "W"

Today, the giant "W" on Tenderfoot Mountain represents Gunnison's Western Colorado University.

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However, just as the college has changed names and distinctions over the years, so has the giant letter.

For instance, the first giant letter created in Gunnison was an "N" placed on Smelter Mountain and used to represent what was then Colorado State Normal School back in 1915.

When the institution changed its name to Western State College in 1923, the "N" was converted into a "G" to represent Gunnison High School and it was around this time that construction began on the giant "W" on Tenderfoot Mountain.

At the time of its completion in 1932, the "W" measured a whopping 320' by 420', making it the largest of its kind in the world.

While the giant "W" remains the largest of its kind in Colorado, it is currently considered the third-largest in the United States next to Lassen High School and Redlands University, both of which are located in California.

The "W" has remained one of Gunnison's signatures ever since and is even set ablaze each year in conjunction with Western Colorado University's homecoming celebrations.