Which volcanoes in the conterminous United States have erupted since the Nation was founded?
Excluding steam eruptions, these volcanoes have shown activity:
- Mount St. Helens, Washington - Eruptions and/or lava dome growth occurred in the late 1700s, 1800-1857, 1980-1986, and 2004-2007.
- Lassen Peak, California - A series of steam blasts began on May 30, 1914. An eruption occurred 12 months later on May 21, 1915. Minor activity continued through the middle of 1917.
- Mount Hood, Oregon - After being dormant for over 1,000 years, Mount Hood had an eruptive period beginning in 1781 that lasted for about a decade. In the mid-1800s, local residents reported minor explosive activity.
Related Content
Which volcanic eruptions were the deadliest?
Are there earthquakes associated with Mount Hood?
How would an eruption of Mount Rainier compare to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens?
How many eruptions have there been in the Cascades during the last 4,000 years?
When did Lassen Peak last erupt?
What was the largest volcanic eruption in the 20th century?
Will extinct volcanoes on the east coast of the U.S. erupt again?
Where does the United States rank in the number of volcanoes?
Where is the largest active volcano in the world?
What was the most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the United States?
How Do Volcanoes Erupt?
How many active volcanoes are there on Earth?
The National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS) will help USGS better monitor nation’s most dangerous volcanoes
In September 2004, USGS scientists detected sudden, but unmistakable, signs that Mount St. Helens was waking up. Volcano monitors had picked up the occurrence of hundreds of small earthquakes and other signals that the volcano’s crater floor had begun to rise. Within a week, several eruptions blasted clouds of ash into the atmosphere, and soon after, a new lava dome emerged in the crater.
Which U.S. volcanoes pose a threat?
USGS Volcanic Threat Assessment updates the 2005 rankings.
Ever Vigilant: USGS Marks the 37th Anniversary of Mount St. Helen's Eruption and the 35th Anniversary of the Cascades Volcano Observatory
Today, in 1980, Mount St. Helens unleashed the most devastating eruption in U.S. history. Two years later, USGS founded the Cascades Volcano Observatory to monitor Mount St. Helens and all the Cascades Volcanoes.
May is Volcano Preparedness Month in Washington State
May is Volcano Preparedness Month in Washington, providing residents an opportunity to become more familiar with volcano hazards in their communities and learn about steps they can take to reduce potential impacts.
Eruptions of Lassen Peak, California, 1914 to 1917 — A Centennial Commemoration
2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the May 22, 1915 explosive volcanic eruption of Lassen Peak in northern California.
A perspective view of Mount hood
A perspective view of Mount hood, made from the OR_Sandy_River_2007 lidar data
Mount St. Helens before and after 1980 eruption
Left: Before the eruption of May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens' elevation was 2,950 m (9,677 ft). View from the west, Mount Adams in distance. S. Fork Toutle River is valley in center of photo.
Right: Mount St. Helens soon after the May 18, 1980 eruption, as viewed from Johnston's Ridge.
PubTalk 04/2015—"Fearfully Grand" Eruptions: Lassen Peak, CA, 1914-17
Title: A Sight "Fearfully Grand" Eruptions of Lassen Peak, California, 1914 to1917
- A summary of the eruptions and their effects
- Illustrated with historical photographs
Mount Hood dominates the skyline outside of Portland, Oregon
A major eruption of Mount Hood would pose a great hazard to the regional economy.
PubTalk 1/2012 — Lassen Volcanic National Park
--a wonderland of volcanoes and thermal features
By Patrick Muffler, Geologist Emeritus
- Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range,explosively erupted in 1915, devastating nearby areas and raining volcanic ash as far away as 200 miles to the east
- Lassen National Park, in addition to
Mount St. Helens: May 18, 1980
USGS scientists recount their experiences before, during and after the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. Loss of their colleague David A. Johnston and 56 others in the eruption cast a pall over one of the most dramatic geologic moments in American history.