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The day St. Helens went “boom”

The day St. Helens went “boom”

Photo courtesy Washington State Archives It was on a sunny morning 31 years ago today that Mount St. Helens experienced its catastrophic eruption, blowing off the top 1,300 feet from its once cone-like summit, killing 57 people and thousands of animals, and destroying or flattening thousands of acres of timber. The eruption occurred when the mountain’s north face collapsed due to an earthquake, resulting in the largest known debris avalanche in recorded history. In recognition of that unforgettable moment, our…

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Hard Times in Washington: Mount St. Helens eruption

Hard Times in Washington: Mount St. Helens eruption

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…

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Archives featuring St. Helens exhibit

Archives featuring St. Helens exhibit

With Tuesday being the 30th anniversary of Mount St. Helens’ big eruption, the State Archives is featuring an exhibit on what the mountain and Spirit Lake looked like BEFORE St. Helens literally blew its top on that fateful Sunday morning in 1980. The free exhibit is in the front lobby of the State Archives Building (1129 Washington St. SE) on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. It will be on display through the end of summer. The State Archives is open…

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