Colorado School of Mines

The Colorado School of Mines, located in the town of Golden, was founded in 1874 as a territorial institution. It became a state institution when Colorado attained statehood in 1876. The Colorado School of Mines offers instruction in a variety of engineering and earth science disciplines, most uniquely in fields such as geophysics and petroleum engineering.

The school is home to the second oldest mountainside monument in the United States. Perched on Mount Zion above the campus, every evening, the stone monument of the school's M logo is illuminated from behind providing an outline on the hill. During holidays and special occasions, such as finals week, the structure is illuminated different colors and patterns to reflect the season.