Pompey's Pillar - Montana by Jen Piatek

GigaPan w/Canon SD850

Pompey's Pillar is an exposed hunk of sandstone along the banks of the Yellowstone River in central Montana (the river itself is off to the right of the pan). It served for many years as a place for travelers to note their passage - from Native Americans to European trappers up until relatively recently.

It serves today as a national monument because it bears the signature of William Clark (of Lewis & Clark), who stopped here as part of their exploration of the Yellowstone River. The signature is not visible in the pan, but the viewing platform (the right side of the pillar) is.

He also gave it the name Pompey's Pillar, after the infant son of Sacajawea (the expedition's Native American guide). He'd nicknamed the child 'Pomp'

For the geologists - there are some nice bedding structures in the sandstone, especially along the left edge.