Information courtesy of K-State’s Carl R. Ice College of Engineering / Aerial photo by David Mayes ’96

Perched on the hillside overlooking the Kansas River and city of Manhattan, just southwest of the K-177 viaduct, sit the iconic concrete “K” and “S” letters, soon to mark a 100-year anniversary.

Construction of the “K” dates back to the 1920s when students at the then-named Kansas State Agricultural College, or KSAC, wanted to erect a letter “K” on Mount Prospect — later known as KS Hill, and today as K-Hill. One class had even gone so far as to shape a “K” from loose rock, which didn’t last too long, so the next plan was for a reinforced concrete letter.

The Civil Engineering Society took the lead in promoting construction of a permanent “K” and the General Engineering Seminar voted funding to build it after the society’s initial idea of each civil engineering student paying 50 cents failed to raise enough money. Under the new plan, the project was opened to all Division of Engineering students, who added to the donations.

On May 19, 1921, all engineering freshmen and juniors were excused from classes and gathered in Aggieville at 7:30 a.m., along with wagon teams to haul water as well as a marching band composed entirely of engineers to serenade the group en route to the construction site. The morning workers prepared materials and set the forms for the “K.” That afternoon, sophomore and senior engineering students left classes to reinforce the letter and pour concrete. With the help of other volunteers as well, the letter was completed the following day.

Ash Grove, Bonner Springs Portland Cement and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce provided supplies for the construction project. Materials included 210 sacks of cement, 50 cubic yards of sand and crushed rock, concrete lugs, railroad rails, heavy wire/cables and a bronze star to be placed in memory of KSAC students killed in World War I. Construction costs for the 80 x 60 x one-foot-deep letter were $350. Anchored by concrete lugs and reinforced with wire netting, the original structure used 210 sacks of cement and nearly 50 cubic yards of sand. The concrete was whitewashed and lined with luminous paint, with the bronze star set into the center of the “K.”

Students were enthusiastic to add an “S” to the hill immediately, but nearly 10 years passed before the Sigma Tau Engineering Honorary Society began organizing this phase of the project. Costs this time were estimated at $500, and after major efforts — including sponsoring tag days, movies and boxing matches, and seeking donations from everyone from faculty to businessmen — the money was raised and the “S” was erected on May 10, 1930.