New Book Showcases Mount St. Helens

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Oct. 14, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Mount St. Helens by David A. Anderson. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by under the shadow of the mountain.

The story of Mount St. Helens is that of an active volcano and human interaction with it. The mountain is culturally important to the regional native people. Its Cowlitz name, Lawetlat’la, means “Person From Whom Smoke Comes.” Early European settlers saw opportunities to make a living from the natural resources and people fell in love with the forested valleys and slopes of the glacier-clad peak with the blue lake at its foot.

Forgotten were the eruptions of the 19th century and the fact that the landscape was a product of frequent violent explosions. A report from the 1970s reminded locals that Mount St. Helens is an active volcano and could erupt again before the end of the 20th century. Only a few people at that time were aware of what the mountain was capable of and many were surprised at the events that took place in 1980.

Images of America: Mount St. Helens shares how the mountain has shaped the communities around it throughout time.  From native people to the early European settlers to modern-day society, the book showcases the transformations of the area using stunning, vintage images.

Highlights of Mount St. Helens include:

•A collection of rarely seen images, many of which are from the United States Forest Service archives.
•Illustrates the Mountain and Spirit Lake from different angles and seasons, as well as how it looked before and after the eruption.
•Discusses the impact Mount St. Helens had on the lives of the Native peoples and their views.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/.