Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives

Those who witnessed this once-beautiful mountain’s eruption on May 18, 1980, will never forget the incredible destruction and the ash cloud that seemed to rise endlessly into the sky.

In the late 1990s, the Johnston Ridge Observatory and Visitor Center was opened to the public, offering a breathtaking view of St. Helens and its massive crater. If you want to visit Johnston Ridge before winter returns, do it soon. At the end of the day on October 31, it closes for the season and won’t open again until next mid-May. The Mount St. Helens Visitor Center at Silver Lake (five miles east of Interstate 5 on State Route 504) will remain open this winter.

October is Washington Archives Month. Go here to learn more about Archives Month events, or to view and download a PDF of the 2010 poster as well as previous posters.