Tourist headed to Pacific Ocean leaves graffiti on historic Montana monument.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Darn it. I meant to post this two days ago, on the anniversary of the graffiti-ing. Of course, it's the graffiti that makes this rock so interesting.

The top 10 historical sites in Montana

By JESSICA WICK For the Gazette
Jul 20, 2016

Montana is a history buff’s dream. Dinosaurs, mineral mining and the opium and prostitution of the gold rush days — there’s been a lot of activity in the place we call home. Her are 10 historical sites worth a visit.



Larry Mayer/Gazette staff

Tourists make their way up the stairs to Clark's signature at Pompeys Pillar Monument.



CASEY PAGE/Billings Gazette

1. Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This is a somber place, but it commemorates an important battle in American history, when Sioux and Cheyenne tribes defeated U.S. troops in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.



JACI WEBB/Gazette Staff

2. Pompeys Pillar National Monument. The only little rock with William Clark's graffiti on it is located 25 miles east of Billings.

Pompeys Pillar National Monument

I was in Billings years ago. I had a Ford Taurus rental car, which I took to Little Big Horn. I should have gone to see Pompeys Pillar too.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Well, there's graffiti..........and then there's ...

graffiti.

This is certainly historic and therefore acceptable.

Thanks for sharing!

[Kali]

2. I live where there are a lot of huge granite boulders - obvious targets for spray paint

And while I dislike it, I still think about the ancient drive in our species to leave signs on rocks. Sometimes it is just the age of the markings that make it "good" or "bad." We are odd.

[uppityperson]

3. I was worried someone had defaced Pompey's pillar when I read your title

Good to see start you meant.