Pompeys Pillar? Is that in Italy or something? The spirit of the Roadside Attraction can take on many forms. Some are a natural fit, some blow your doors off with the unexpected, and some are both.

This next attraction I recommend caught us by surprise while traveling in Big Sky country. While driving on I-94, east of Billings, you see a few brown signs for Pompeys Pillar. My initial thought was something established by an Italian paying homage to Pompeii. I was incorrect both in spelling and source….and so glad I was!

Pompeys Pillar is a part of the Lewis and Clark Trail along the Yellowstone River. As described on their website, it was named for Jean Baptiste “Pompey” Charbonneau, the son of Sacagawea, by William Clark.

The pillar of sandstone stands 150 feet above the river basin and provides an expansive view of the river and plains below. Peppered with signatures and petroglyphs from previous centuries making it “a living journal of the American West.” The main attraction is the signature and date William Clark carved into the porous sandstone as he made it to the top. His signature is protected in a Lexan case these days, but clearly visible as you make your way to the top via an easily navigable trail. This is “the only know visible evidence of the entire journey that remains intact.” Official Website

Get all our latest articles and a free outdoor adventure book by us when you join our newsletter here!

According to the Bureau of Land Management, Pompeys Pillar was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and converted to a National Monument in 2001.

The site is approximately 50 acres and has modem visitors center. You will learn about the history of the area, the ecology, and meet some wonderful people. Heck, go dip your toes in the Yellowstone River.

Maybe Pompeys doesn’t fit the normal construct of a typical Roadside Attraction, but it is well worth an hour or two of your time, effort, and imagination. Make sure you stop by the next time your find yourself traveling in Montana and let your mind wander down the pathway of historical significance!