Ancient Landmark: Pompey's Column
Pompey's Pillar, a towering sandstone cliff near present-day Billings, Montana, is a significant historical landmark. Named by Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition on July 25, 1806, during their scientific exploration across the continent from 1804-1806, it is best known for Clark's unique rock inscription, which remains the only on-site physical evidence of the expedition [3][5].
The site holds a rich history spanning an estimated 11,000 years, providing evidence of human activity long before the expedition's visit [1]. Today, Pompey's Pillar stands as a designated National Monument, managed by the Bureau of Land Management since 2001, and it features a visitor center and museum established in 2006 to commemorate the expedition's bicentennial [1][2].
The surrounding community of Pompeys Pillar was named after the landmark and was founded in 1907, originally as a railroad station for the Huntley irrigation project [1]. The pillar overlooks the Yellowstone River and serves as a symbol of early American exploration and westward expansion.
Pompey's Pillar is one of the features described by Lewis and Clark in their famous transcontinental expedition. Visitors can follow a walking path with a boardwalk and stairs up to the top of the rock, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape [4].
Beyond its connection to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Pompey's Pillar holds a personal significance for William Clark. Born on August 1, 1770, Clark stopped by the sandstone cliff overlooking the Yellowstone River and etched his name, the date, and the month on one side of the pillar [2]. His signature is protected by a clear bullet and shatter-proof glass set in an edged in bronze [6].
The history of Pompey's Pillar extends beyond the expedition and the American pioneers. Pompey, whose real name was Jean Baptiste Charboneau, was the son of a trader named Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacajawea, who was with the Lewis and Clark expedition [7].
The landmark has also been mentioned in historical records. For example, the Cheyenne Weekly Leader mentioned Pompey's Pillar on June 24, 1876 [8]. Tragically, on May 23, 1876, privates Stoker, H Rahmier, and James Quinn were killed by Indians near Pompey's Pillar [1].
In 1803, President Jefferson purchased a territory from France for $15,000,000, which included present-day states like Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana [9]. Today, Pompey's Pillar remains a testament to this significant period in American history, located about 30 miles from Billings, Montana.
References:
- Pompey's Pillar National Monument
- Pompey's Tower
- Lewis and Clark Expedition Journal Entries
- Pompey's Pillar Visitor Guide
- Pompey's Pillar Inscription
- Protecting the Inscription
- Pompey Charbonneau
- Cheyenne Weekly Leader
- Louisiana Purchase
Interestingly, in history and education-and-self-development classes, the story of Pompey's Pillar is often used to illustrate the importance of understanding and preserving our nation's past, as well as the role of politics and its impact on events such as the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Furthermore, the sports section might also find an ironic connection in the name of Pompey's Pillar, as it shares a name with a famous boxer, Pompey, from the general-news era.
