Presented by Patrick Pringle, Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at Centralia College

Geologists have learned a great deal about Mount Rainier volcano over the past few decades, for example, it has had at least 40 eruptions in the past 11,500 years (since the last major Ice Age). Did you know there are ancient Mount Rainier deposits exposed along the shoreline at Olympia's Priest Point Park, on Ketron Island, and in bluffs at Tacoma? And why are there Mount Rainier rocks in the Mima Mounds, Tenino, the Skookumchuck River valley, under Centralia? Find out more about Mount Rainier's past, which areas are most at risk during future eruptions, and which areas are safest. 

About the Speaker:

Pat Pringle is Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences at Centralia College, Washington. He taught at Centralia College from 2005–2017 and was a Research Geologist at DNR Geological Survey of Washington from 1990–2005 and at US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory from 1982–1990. Pat studies volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, and debris flows using radiocarbon and tree-ring analysis to establish the history of past geologic events. He is the author of books on the roadside geology of Mounts St. Helens and Rainier as well as many published papers and reports; the Mount Rainier book won the Geoscience Information Society’s “Best Guidebook Award” for 2009, presented at the Geological Society of America’s Annual Meeting that year.

These monthly, free events are open to everyone interested in Oregon and Pacific Northwest history. Co-sponsored by like-minded historical and civic organizations, we bring you experts, scholars, first-person experiencers and historians who expound on topics from Lewis and Clark to shipwrecks, hop growing to women pioneers and far, far beyond. It's like being back in the classroom - except this time you get to settle into comfortable seats and enjoy a drink or two with dinner while you listen and learn.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp