Block U

The Block U is a large concrete hillside letter on Mount Van Cott in Salt Lake City, Utah. The stylized "U" is a logo of the University of Utah and is located just north of the university’s campus. It is one of the earliest hillside letters. It sits at 1600 meters (5,249 feet) above sea level. Lights outlining the Block U flash when athletic teams from the University of Utah win and burn steady when they are defeated.

The official name is the “Block U” and is a registered trademark of the University of Utah.

The history of the Block U begins at the turn of the twentieth century. Each year, as an unofficial activity, students of the University of Utah would climb “The Hill” (Mount Van Cott) and paint their class year on the mountainside. The administration felt that something more permanent was needed. In 1907 the block U was built with limestone. The U is over 30 meters (100 feet) tall and has a surface area of over 455 square meters (5,000 square feet). It can be seen from many different areas of the Salt Lake Valley. It was later modified in 1967 to include 124 lights. By 2001 the Block U had fallen into a constant state of disrepair. Despite several attempted maintenance by students it was not sustainable without a more thorough renovation.

In 2006, the University of Utah completed a $400,000 restoration project known as "Renew the U". Sue Christensen, a University of Utah alumnus, initiated the restoration project. These improvements include:

After the renovation, an official lighting ceremony was held on October 5, 2006 during the half time of the football game between Utah and TCU at Rice–Eccles Stadium.

The Block U has a physical address of 1635 New Bedford Dr, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103. The official trailhead is located at the end of Tomahawk Dr, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103.

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