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| Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver, Washington |
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| Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument |
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Despite the troubled economy in early 1980s, tens
of thousands of visitors flocked to the area surrounding
Mount St. Helens to marvel at the effects of the
eruption. On August 27, 1982, President Reagan
signed into law a measure setting aside 110,000
acres around the volcano as the Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic Monument, the nation's first such
monument managed by the USFS. At dedication
ceremonies on May 18, 1983, Max Peterson, head
of the USFS, said,"we can take pride in having
preserved the unique episode of natural history for
future generations." Since then, many trails, viewpoints,
information stations, campgrounds, and picnic
areas have been established to accommodate
the increasing number of visitors each year.
Beginning in the summer of 1983, visitors have been able to drive to Windy Ridge, only 4 miles northeast of the crater. From this spectacular vantage point overlooking Spirit Lake, people see firsthand not only the awesome evidence of a volcano's destruction, but also the remarkable, gradual recovery of the land as revegetation proceeds and wildlife returns. A majestic Visitor Center was completed in December 1986 at Silver Lake, about 30 miles west of Mount St. Helens and five miles east of Interstate Highway 5. By the end of 1989, the Center had hosted more than 1.5 million visitors. Opening in 1993 was an interpretation complex in the Coldwater Lake area, and in 1997 an interpretation complex in the Johnston area, from which visitors can view the inside of the crater and its dome from the site of David Johnston's camp on the morning of May 18, 1980. Mountain climbing to the summit of the volcano has been allowed since 1986. The National Volcanic Monument preserves some of the best examples and sites affected by volcanic events for scientific studies, education, and recreation. Intensive monitoring of the volcano is now all the more important to ensure the safety of the scientists and the monument's visitors. -- Excerpts modified from: Tilling, Topinka, and Swanson, 1990, Eruptions of Mount St. Helens: Past, Present, and Future, USGS Special Interest Publication |
| For More National Monument Information |
Link to:Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Website
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters
42218 NE Yale Bridge Road, Amboy, WA 98601 Telephone: (360) 449-7800 FAX: (360) 449-7801 TTY: (360) 891-5003 Mount St. Helens Climbing Hotline, 24 Hours: (360) 449-7861 |
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