Monday marks the 35th anniversary of a tragic “where-were-you-when-it-happened” moment for many Washingtonians: the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

On the morning of May 18, 1980, the cone-shaped volcano erupted violently, killing 57 people and thousands of animals, unleashing devastating mudslides, damaging or destroying more than 4 billion board feet of timber and sending an ash plume 12 miles into the sky and covering much of Eastern Washington with the gritty ash. The 1980 event was the deadliest and most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the continental U.S.

Four days after the eruption, President Jimmy Carter flew west to meet with officials and inspect the destruction with Gov. Dixy Lee Ray. A day later, Carter wrote this letter (above) to Ray, letting the governor know that “My administration will continue to do everything possible to provide assistance in repairing the damage caused by the volcanic eruption.” Carter also wrote:

“As President, I am extremely proud of the courage of the people of the northwest region of our country. The cooperation of efforts in dealing with this devastating phenomenon has surely been one of the most important single factors in minimizing damage which was potentially catastrophic. It is gratifying to see such a tremendous spirit of determination.”

Here is President Carter’s Daily Diary for May 22, 1980, which shows him starting his day in Portland, flying in Marine One up to Kelso for a brief visit, helicoptering back to Portland, flying to Spokane on Air Force One for a short visit, and then flying back to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

In the weeks leading to the Cascades volcano blowing up, Harry Truman, the owner and caretaker of the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake, refused to leave his home despite evacuation orders. He is presumed to have been killed in the eruption. This letter sent by a Portland couple to Gov. Ray asks her to take steps to remove Truman from the mountain’s danger zone.

The letters and diary are part of our State Archives. They make up the third Archives Treasure for May.