Originally published May 2020; updated for 2021
May 18, 1980: Mount St. Helens erupted in Southwest Washington, a date etched in the memory of Northwesterners as an event that took dozens of lives and forever changed the landscape.
Now, on the 41th anniversary of the event, is the perfect time to educate your family about the science, ecology and history of the eruption — and maybe plan a future trip to see the site for yourself.
Note: Many sites have been closed because of the pandemic, but things are starting to reopen. Always check before you go!
Mount St. Helens resources:
Washington State Parks Adventure Awaits blog features photos, interviews with survivors and even video of the eruption. (Yes, kids, we had video in 1980!)
Find information here about the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument operated by the U.S. Forest Service.
The U.S. Geological Survey has an extensive 40th-anniversary report and lots of resources online.
No public commemorations of the event are planned, due to the coronavirus crisis. But stay tuned: Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that perhaps we can observe the 40th anniversary a year late.
