Cartoon of a cop confused by a seven human forms with ties wearing masks.

Fun Fact #82 Why were Portlanders wearing face masks in 1980?

Written by

Tanya March

in

Last Updated on June 22, 2026

Cartoon of a cop confused by a seven human forms with ties wearing masks.
Oregon Journal June 24, 1980 cartoon by Bill Morrow. Bill Morrow, staff artist for the Oregon Journal 1972-82 and for The Oregonian 1982-89, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014

Why were Portlanders wearing face masks in 1980?

Portlanders wore face masks in 1980 to avoid breathing in volcanic ash. Following the eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18th, 1980 the wind blew east sparing the city until the wind shifted. The eruption released a massive ash cloud that spread across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. While Portland was not directly in the path of the heaviest ash fall, it still received a considerable amount.

A group trying to cross Burnside at NW18th

OHS has preserved a Mount Saint Helen’s oral history series.

 

A Black child is walking down the street with what might be his parents they are all wearing masks the old style double headed parking meter ads a night balance to the image
An African American Family wearing what might be N95 masks. Two adults and a child might be cold hands are in their pockets walking towards a very 1970s Parking meter.
“May 26, 1980. Portland, Ore., residents wear protective masks” AO Photo Bill Haber as published in Galesburg Register-Mail

 

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