The station was founded on November 16, 1966 as KPLU-FM. It was primarily run by university students and played jazz, blues and other music not usually heard on commercial radio stations. Originally, it broadcast from a tower on campus that was only 140 feet tall, effectively limiting its coverage area to Tacoma and adjacent suburbs. Over time, the station added news programs from NPR to its schedule. It improved its coverage area, both by increasing its power and relocating to a tower that is 2320 feet (707 meters) Height Above Average Terrain, giving it a coverage area roughly comparable to that of KUOW. For listeners outside the Tacoma-Seattle area, it set up eight translators and simulcast stations.