Pompey's Pillar
On July 12th we got up in the morning, I packed a lunch for all of us while Lynnell and Izzie got ready for the day and then we headed off to Pompey's Pillar. It's not far from Billings. It only took us about 30 minutes to drive there from the house, so it was a great destination for the afternoon. I didn't know what to expect, but when I got there I was a little shocked to see that Pompey's Pillar was more like a big round rock sticking out of the ground.
Here we are stopping in the parking lot for a quick photo. In the background is the new visitor center, and behind that (the large rock sticking out of the ground) is Pompey's Pillar.
The visitor center was very nice. Obviously it had been funded very well. Of course they had the typical attractions: gift shop, historical maps, time lines, interactive activities and statues. Here's Izzie and I posing for a quick picture with my new buddy William M. Clark. Obviously you can tell that Izzie didn't know what to think about it. I tried to get her to touch him, but I think the dead animal skin may have turned her off (see arm position).
As we strolled around in the little museum part I snapped some more pictures of Izzie. Here's arguably the cutest picture of her yet.
Next is Nell trying on some of the deer skin clothes that Clark and his fellow explorers wore. She got lucky and picked the smallest one, but didn't find that out until she already had it on. Yes, I had to pull it off of her while she held her hands up in the air. It was entertaining.
We know when Clark passed through the area and particularly at this monument because he carved his initials and the date into the rock face (see even famous people are guilty of graffiti). Here's a replica of his signature (the real one is kept behind bullet proof glass and security cameras in it's original place).
After we exhausted the educational portion of the visitor center we decided to head over to the "pillar" to see what the hubbub was about. The top wasn't stroller accessible, so we ditched it at the bottom. I threw the Iz on my shoulders and off we went.
Somewhere near the half way point you reach the spot where Clark so elegantly defaced the rock. Here's a photo of the bomb proof case that protects the signature... So I guess it's a signature photo as well...
Alll.... Mossst... There... It's a 150 foot climb to the top of the butte (so: 150' x 12" per foot = 1800" & 1800"/8" per step = 225 steps, but I didn't count). Here we are at the top
After the decent we took a stroll through the park on the excellent pathways that are provided. We stopped off for a quick picture, but I got distracted by my beautiful wife and forgot what I was doing.
The trail led us to the Mud... er.. Yellowstone River where we obviously had to take yet another picture.
As we headed back to the visitor center to finish our tour there we stumbled upon some canoes carved from tree trunks according to the plaque they were constructed in the fashion that they would have bee when the explorers passed through. And of course I had to subject poor Izzie to another cheesy photo, but judging by the look on her face she didn't mind.
Once we got back to the visitor center we decided to hit the gift shop to see what they had to offer. It was fairly typical garbage that no one really needs but everyone buys because the receipt for paying at the gate isn't good enough proof that you were actually at Pompey's Pillar. Izzie couldn't get past all of the stuffed animals, so we bought her a ground hog because where else do you find stuffed animal ground hogs beside Pompey's Pillar in the middle of Montana?
Here's a picture of the main hallway in the visitor center. Note that the Yellowstone River is represented on the floor and that it also accurately represents the color of the river (I just noticed that and decided to write it... I'm so clever).
After the gift shop it was time for lunch. Here we are picnicking in the picnic area just North of the visitor center.
Here's Nell and Izzie stretching their legs after lunch.
Click here to see a satellite view of the park. (note that the color of the river never changes.)
That was it.
Here we are stopping in the parking lot for a quick photo. In the background is the new visitor center, and behind that (the large rock sticking out of the ground) is Pompey's Pillar.
The visitor center was very nice. Obviously it had been funded very well. Of course they had the typical attractions: gift shop, historical maps, time lines, interactive activities and statues. Here's Izzie and I posing for a quick picture with my new buddy William M. Clark. Obviously you can tell that Izzie didn't know what to think about it. I tried to get her to touch him, but I think the dead animal skin may have turned her off (see arm position).
As we strolled around in the little museum part I snapped some more pictures of Izzie. Here's arguably the cutest picture of her yet.
Next is Nell trying on some of the deer skin clothes that Clark and his fellow explorers wore. She got lucky and picked the smallest one, but didn't find that out until she already had it on. Yes, I had to pull it off of her while she held her hands up in the air. It was entertaining.
We know when Clark passed through the area and particularly at this monument because he carved his initials and the date into the rock face (see even famous people are guilty of graffiti). Here's a replica of his signature (the real one is kept behind bullet proof glass and security cameras in it's original place).
After we exhausted the educational portion of the visitor center we decided to head over to the "pillar" to see what the hubbub was about. The top wasn't stroller accessible, so we ditched it at the bottom. I threw the Iz on my shoulders and off we went.
Somewhere near the half way point you reach the spot where Clark so elegantly defaced the rock. Here's a photo of the bomb proof case that protects the signature... So I guess it's a signature photo as well...
Alll.... Mossst... There... It's a 150 foot climb to the top of the butte (so: 150' x 12" per foot = 1800" & 1800"/8" per step = 225 steps, but I didn't count). Here we are at the top
After the decent we took a stroll through the park on the excellent pathways that are provided. We stopped off for a quick picture, but I got distracted by my beautiful wife and forgot what I was doing.
The trail led us to the Mud... er.. Yellowstone River where we obviously had to take yet another picture.
As we headed back to the visitor center to finish our tour there we stumbled upon some canoes carved from tree trunks according to the plaque they were constructed in the fashion that they would have bee when the explorers passed through. And of course I had to subject poor Izzie to another cheesy photo, but judging by the look on her face she didn't mind.
Once we got back to the visitor center we decided to hit the gift shop to see what they had to offer. It was fairly typical garbage that no one really needs but everyone buys because the receipt for paying at the gate isn't good enough proof that you were actually at Pompey's Pillar. Izzie couldn't get past all of the stuffed animals, so we bought her a ground hog because where else do you find stuffed animal ground hogs beside Pompey's Pillar in the middle of Montana?
Here's a picture of the main hallway in the visitor center. Note that the Yellowstone River is represented on the floor and that it also accurately represents the color of the river (I just noticed that and decided to write it... I'm so clever).
After the gift shop it was time for lunch. Here we are picnicking in the picnic area just North of the visitor center.
Here's Nell and Izzie stretching their legs after lunch.
Click here to see a satellite view of the park. (note that the color of the river never changes.)
That was it.
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1:16 PM
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