Pictograph Cave (Billings, Montana) facts for kids
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Pictograph Cave
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Pictograph Cave
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 Location in Montana
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| Location | Yellowstone County, Montana, United States |
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| Nearest city | Billings, Montana |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000439 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 19, 1964 |
Pictograph Cave is a special place in Montana, USA. It has three main caves: Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost caves. This area is protected as Pictograph Cave State Park, covering about 23 acres. It's located about 5 miles south of Billings, Montana.
People started digging here in 1937 to learn about the past. This was one of the first big archeological studies in Montana. Archeologists are like history detectives who study old things. They found over 30,000 items, called artifacts. They also found more than 20,000 animal bones! These bones came from large animals like bison and elk, and also from smaller creatures like reptiles, amphibians, and birds. These remains show what people ate and what animals lived in the area long ago.
The biggest cave, Pictograph Cave, still has amazing paintings on its walls. These paintings are called pictographs. Scientists think they are between 200 and 2,100 years old. The oldest one is a painting of a turtle. These pictographs tell stories of the Native Americans who lived here for thousands of years. They show animals, warriors, and even old rifles. In 1964, Pictograph Cave was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical site.
Exploring Pictograph Cave State Park
Pictograph Cave State Park is a great place to visit. It has paved paths that lead to the caves. Along the paths, there are signs that explain the paintings, the rocks, and the plants. The park covers 23 acres and has a visitor center. There are also picnic areas where you can eat.
The caves are found in a tall rock cliff made of sandstone. This area was an important meeting place for Native American tribes. Inside Pictograph Cave, which is the only one with rock art, archeologists found 106 pictographs. These paintings were made using red, white, yellow, and black colors.
Besides the paintings, many tools and other items were found. These include tools made of stone and bone, moccasins (soft shoes), arrow shafts, baskets, grinding stones, and tools for starting fires. They even found jewelry like pendants, bracelets, and beads. Some of these beads were made from seashells that came all the way from the Pacific Coast!
The Park's History and Visitors
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Turning Pictograph Cave into a state park took some time. The land was bought by the State of Montana in 1937.
During the archeological digs from 1938 to 1941, many people visited the site. Over 10,000 visitors came to see the discoveries. Because so many people were interested, a small museum and visitor center were built. This building was also used to sort the artifacts found in the caves.
When World War II started, the digging stopped, and fewer people visited the site. The museum was broken into many times and eventually burned down. Many of the artifacts found during the digs were also lost.
In 1963, the city of Billings agreed to manage the park. Some people worried about this because the park was far from the city. But the mayor thought it would bring tourists to the area. The site officially became a National Historic Landmark in 1964. Later, in 1969, the state's Parks Division took over managing the caves. Finally, in 1991, it became an official state park.
