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The Rock at the University of Tennessee celebrates 50 years

The University of Tennessee is celebrating its famous Rock's 50-year history.

The University of Tennessee is celebrating its famous Rock’s 50-year history.

UT’s Student Government Association is hosting a celebration at the Rock from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Attendees are celebrating with cake and using spray paint to leave their mark.

The 97.5-ton slab of Knox dolomite stone has served as an iconic campus symbol.

UT biochemistry student Payton Miller tweeted a picture of UT's Mascot Smokey with a party horn and hat at 9:35 a.m. Friday with the caption, “Fifty Rocking Years! So grateful to have been a part of four of them!”

The Student Government Association tweeted a time-lapse video of Miller painting the Rock just before noon Friday.

Miller's paintings include Smokey, Butch Jones, Joshua Dobbs and Pat Summitt.

UT’s iconic landmark has featured a number of different messages, including birth announcements, memorials, break-up messages, marriage proposals, protests of war, messages of peace and celebrations of Tennessee Vol victories.

The Rock is situated at the corner of Volunteer Boulevard and Pat Head Summitt Street in front of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center.

Tennessee (7-3, 3-3 SEC) hosts Missouri (3-7, 1-5 SEC) on Saturday to conclude a three-game homestand at Neyland Stadium.

Gallery: The Rock by Payton Miller

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