Blue Mountain Community College was established on July 1, 1962, after winning an overwhelming five-to-one vote of confidence by the residents of Umatilla and Morrow counties. The college opened its doors in September of that same year. Vocational-technical courses were initially taught at Pendleton’s John Murray Junior High School; college transfer programs were added a year later. In 1965, BMCC moved the campus to the north hill overlooking Pendleton. Within ten years, the original construction plans for the college were completed.