POMPEYS PILLAR

Last Updated on September 11, 2023 by

A small piece of the Lewis and Clark Trail

This stop is a little like stopping for the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. It’s out of the way and hardly makes a footnote in any tourist guidebook, but it’s a great stop for a day with nothing planned.

There is a very short walk to the big sandstone rock on the banks of the Yellowstone River where William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame carved his name into the rock. Followed by 100 years of every other miscreant in the area carving their name into said rock before BLM (that would be the real BLM – the Bureau of Land Management), through a donation, finally put a stop to it and protected his signature behind plexiglass.

Unfortunately, all of the Native pictographs were no so lucky to be preserved. However, the visitor center has a really nice interpretive display and overall, the place is a great stop to have a picnic lunch, enjoy the weather, and spend an hour or two learning some pretty interesting history (like the fact the pillar was named after Sacagawea’s son).

Perhaps the most interesting thing I saw (and learned) was the reproduction carve-out canoe that took NPS employees 200 hours with chainsaws and modern tools to make. They then had to get a crane to move it into place. Meanwhile, manly men from the Lewis and Clark expedition were doing it in about 8 days with hand axes and brawn.

As most things out here, this was not what I expected when the pamphlet said ‘sandstone pillar’. This is not red sandstone (like all the pretty little coasters in every gift shop out there) and it’s not a pillar. I was picturing a pillar created by an artist, but no one made this (except God). It really is a good thing that we are out here in the world. I didn’t realize how small my perspective actually was. Coolest thing I saw were the little devices all over the pillar. They are seismic sensors and microwave sensors to make sure nobody climbs on the pillar. Any part of it. You can’t even sneak onto it from the other side. There are sensors there, too. I checked. Second coolest thing I saw (and learned) – this signature is the only remaining physical evidence of Lewis and Clark on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Might only be a blip in the guide book, but that in and of itself should certainly raise it up to more than a footnote. The monument consists of 51 acres and not just the sandstone pillar itself.

Lots of hiking trails right on the Yellowstone River. It was too hot for us to walk them. Mostly because we were lazy and didn’t get out of the house until noon. But also because it was a red air quality day due to the hazy smoke filled air from all the forest fires. Enjoying my permanent weekend though.

Lessons Learned – This trek was called ‘the Corps of Discovery’. Sacagawea was only 16 (or 17) years old and the lone female invited on this trek. They had to invite her skeevy French husband in order to get her because she spoke multiple native languages and English and could interpret for them. The reason why she spoke several native languages? Because she was kidnapped and became a slave to another tribe when she was 11/12 years old. Her son, Pompey, was later ‘adopted’ by William Lewis in order to educate him in the Western world. (See attached article.). So much history!

. “…after Satisfying my Self Sufficiently in this delightful prospect of the extensive Country around…I descended and proceeded on… ~William Clark. Best quote ever.