Guide to Harry Truman's Mt. St. Helens Lodge Photograph Collection
ca. 1940s-1950s

Tourists by sign for Mt. St. Helens Lodge. Special Collections, UW Libraries, UW23481z

Historical Background

Mt. St. Helens is a volcanic peak in the Cascade Range located in southwestern Washington State. This collection documents various tourist activities in the late 1940s and early 1950s at Mt. St. Helens Lodge, a resort owned by Harry Truman on Spirit Lake near the volcano. Born in West Virginia in 1896, Truman came to Washington and started logging, hunting, and farming. He served in World War I and was a bootlegger during Prohibition. Truman brought his family to Spirit Lake in 1926 and started a log-cabin grocery, gas station, and small boat rental. The main lodge was built in 1939 and was very popular, especially on summer weekends. Tourist activities included boating, fishing, camping, swimming, and hiking. Truman eventually owned 54 acres of land as well as the resort, and had 100 boats for rent on the lake. In 1980, Mt. St. Helens began acting up after being dormant since 1857. In the evacuations that took place before the eruption, Truman refused to leave his lodge and became popular with the press. The mountain erupted on May 18, 1980, one of the most violent eruptions ever recorded in North America. Truman was killed in the blast.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of photographs which document various tourist activities associated with Harry Truman's Mt. St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake. Includes scenic views of Mt. St. Helens from Spirit Lake, Mt. St. Helens Lodge, swimming, and camping. The photos appear to be from the late 1940s to 1950s.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to the public.

Acquisition Info

Source: Fairlook Antiques, 2003.

Processing Info

Processed by Connie Petlitzer, 2004.

Bibliography

Rosen, Shirley. Truman of St. Helens: the Man and his Mountain (Madrona Publishers, 1981).

Inventory

Folder

Item

Date

1

1-3

People near Mt. St. Helens Lodge sign

n.d.

4

Mt. St. Helens Lodge

n.d.

5

Tourists on steps of Spirit Lake Lodge

n.d.

Possibly a different lodge at Spirit Lake.

6

Group in snow by roadside

n.d.

2

7-10

Group and campsite along river

n.d.

11-12

Water slide and children swimming in lake

n.d.

13

Group on lodge bench, Mt. St. Helens in background (man photographing the photographer)

n.d.

14

Group on lodge bench, Mt. St. Helens in background

n.d.

15-16

Mt. St. Helens and Spirit Lake from lodge

n.d.

3

17-26

Mt. St. Helens from Spirit Lake

n.d.

27

Mt. St. Helens from road

n.d.

Subject Terms

Personal Names:

Truman, Harry, 1896-1980.

Organizations:

Mt. St. Helen's Lodge (Spirit Lake, Wash.)

Subjects:

Mountains--Washington (State)--Photographs.

Outdoor recreation--Washington (State)--Spirit Lake Region--Photographs.

Resorts--Washington (State)--Spirit Lake Region--Photographs.

Tourists--Washington (State)--Spirit Lake Region--Photographs.

Geographic Names:

Saint Helens, Mount (Wash.)--Photographs.

Spirit Lake (Wash.)--Photographs.

Genre Headings:

Landscape photographs.