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Mount St. Helens 40th Anniversary — Events & Resources

Forty years ago, on May 18th, 1980, Mount St. Helens produced the largest observed eruption in the coterminus United States. This eruption had profound impacts on human life and the science of volcanology, as well as on hazard preparedness, communication, and forecasting.



The Mount St. Helens Institute (link below at right) has compiled a number of events that are commemorating the eruption, so only Smithsonian-related events are included below.

Events and Resources

There was a reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) with GVP volcanologists on May 18th about Mount St. Helens and volcanic eruptions.

GVP volcanologists answered questions about volcanoes and Mount St. Helens for the STEM in 30 "Mission Debrief" on May 18th. The video will be available soon on the website, and is already available through the GVP Facebook Live page.




The National Air & Space Museum's STEM in 30 produced Shake, Rattle and Roll: The Science Underneath Earthquakes and Volcanos

  Mount St. Helens Institute

  GVP Profile for St. Helens

  CVO Profile for St. Helens

  Historic Photos