The Rainsbow Road: Pompey's Pillar


Pompey's Pillar

Clark's signature

Traveling along I94 we stopped in Billings to see Pompey's Pillar. It is a National Historic Landmark where the Powder River meets the Yellowstone River but there are no camping spots nearby.

Replica of Clark's canoe with Pillar in the background

Meriwether Lewis & William Clark split up on the return trip to Saint Louis in July & August of 1806. Meriwether went north to explore the Marais River while Clark traveled the Yellowstone River by canoe with Sacagawea as a guide. They wanted to be sure these tributaries of the Missouri did not hide some better way to the Pacific. Some of the men accompanied Clark along the way on horseback but most of the horses gradually disappeared, presumably stolen by Indians. Since they were now traveling downstream it was mostly a lovely float trip. Comments were made in Clark's journal about the abundant wildlife.

The Missouri River ambling along behind the Pillar

At the beginning of their trip when they were wintering over at the Mandan villages before assaulting the Rocky Mountains, Sacagawea gave birth to a son and her son traveled with her the whole expedition. The boy’s name was Jean Baptiste but Clark became fairly attached to him and nicknamed him "Pomp" or “Pompey”. When they came across a large sandstone outcropping at the Powder River on July 25, 1806, Clark got out of the canoe and climbed the rock to survey the area. He also carved his name and date on in the soft sandstone, which today can be viewed under a protective plexiglas cover. The area is fenced off so no one else can add their name to the rock. Clark named the sandstone landmark Pompey's Pillar.


The Range Rider's Museum - another local collection of junk

We then proceeded further up I94 along Clark's route to Miles City, our last stop in Montana for this year. Miles City was a center for the end of the cattle drives during the last half of the 1800s. The cattle roamed freely here, grazing on the lush vegetation near the Yellowstone River. The cowboys here were known as the Range Riders.

Great western tradition - kill things and stick them on your wall

Miles City has a museum known as the Range Riders Museum. We thought we would tour the museum to learn a little more about this era. It turned out to be just a small town museum with items that seemed to date mostly from after the range lands were fenced. However, they did have some nice exhibits which we will share in photos.