Originally, The Sigma Chi Bell hung proudly on the 1908 warship USS Montana. When the Montana was decommissioned in 1921, UM President and Sigma Chi Beta Delta Chapter founder Prof. Frederick Scheuch requested from the Secretary of War "a small dinner bell from the USS Montana as a souvenir". Instead, the one ton ship’s bell arrived.

From 1937 to 1955, The Bell enjoyed a place of honor in the Sigma Chi garden at 1110 Gerald Avenue, Missoula. In 1955, it was stolen by a Bozeman fraternity and remained missing for 23 years. In 1978, The Bell was recaptured by the Sigma Chis and reinstalled at the fraternity house. In less than a year, it was stolen again.

For the next two decades, The Bell remained hidden despite many searches by a dedicated group of Sigma Chis. After prolonged negotiations (and threat of lawsuit), The Bell was once more returned to Missoula just in time for the 1998 UM Homecoming and is on display in the lobby of the Harry Adams Fieldhouse for all to enjoy.