History Left A Definite Mark At This One Fascinating Spot In Montana

Many (many) years ago, a group of prehistoric hunters roamed Montana. They left their mark in the form of pictographs, a type of ancient rock painting, which miraculously are still visible today. They're preserved at Pictograph Cave State Park, one of the most incredible things to see in Montana.

Pictograph Cave State Park is located in Billings, Montana

The Pictograph Cave site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964 because of its archaeological significance.

The 23-acre park includes three caves, Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost cave, all of which have pictographs.

Prehistoric hunters who called these caves home left behind over 100 pictographs, which were discovered in 1936. The oldest pictograph in the cave is over 2,000 years old! The area itself is beautiful and worth exploring, and you'll want to set aside about two hours to give yourself ample time to see the sights.

The caves contain over 100 prehistoric drawings.

Over 30,000 artifacts have been excavated from the site, ranging from stone tools, weapons, and even a few of the instruments that were used to create the drawings, which have helped historians piece together a timeline.

The pictograph interpretations are subject to debate.

The images of animals and warriors tell a story that spans thousands of years, almost as if new generations continued the storyline. The trail to the caves is just shy of a mile and peppered with informational signs about the area including the wildlife and various vegetation around the area. The deepest cave, Pictograph cave, is about 160 feet wide and 45 feet deep. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars to get a better view of the art.

When you go, make sure to stop by the Visitor Center.

You'll find information on the pictographs, interpretive displays, and tons of ancient artifacts on display. Of course, you'll want to swing through the gift shop, too, so you can pick up a souvenir to bring home!

Visit the State Park's website for hours of operation and more information. Have you ever been to Pictograph Cave State Park? It's one of Montana's many state parks worth exploring.