Eye of the Needle

Eye of the Needle was a sandstone natural arch located along the Missouri River near Fort Benton, Montana. At some point prior to May 27, 1997, it experienced considerable damage, though the cause of that damage is unclear. History The Eye of the Needle was an -high naturally occurring geographic formation shaped much like an inverted "V". It was located along a section of the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), approximately downstream from Fort Benton and adjacent to LaBarge Rock, another notable rock formation. The arch was described by Meriwether Lewis in his journal during the 1805 Lewis and Clark Expedition up the Missouri River. The arch was discovered in a state of destruction on May 27, 1997, by an outfitter during a guided river trip. The top of the arch had fallen, leaving two pillars. Six other columns near the arch on the south side of the river were also toppled. Early reports suggested that vandals had destroyed the arch. The Justice Department launched an examination of the area and investigators concluded that vandals had used a long tool to gain leverage and topple the arch. Later reports blamed drunken teenagers for the vandalism and a reward of $22,000 was offered for information about the incident. The event received widespread attention and became an educational opportunity for the BLM to raise awareness about the vandalism of public resources.