In Search of Ancient Yellowstone: How the Yellowstone Hotspot Crafted the Pacific Northwest’s Landscapes
With Ellen Bishop, PhD, Geologist, Photographer and Writer
About the Lecture
The Yellowstone hotspot powers one of the world’s most explosive volcanoes. Today, it steams restively in Wyoming. But 60 million years ago, it erupted as seamounts off Oregon’s coast.
The story of North American’s collision and interaction with the Yellowstone hotspot is one of geology’s newest paradigms. Yellowstone crafted much of the Northwest’s landscapes. It created Oregon and Washington’s coast ranges, including the Olympic Mountains. In Washington, it melted the crust beneath the North Cascades and uplifted the Okanogan and Kettle Ranges. In Oregon the Yellowstone hotspot produced explosive volcanic features including Smith Rock and the Owyhees. The Yellowstone hotspot also produced all of the Columbia River basalts and much, much more enroute to creating our nation’s first national park.
Is today’s Yellowstone poised to erupt again soon? And will we repeat the scenario of colliding with a seamount and ridge someday? This photography-rich talk will introduce you to the Yellowstone hotspot’s past, present, and possible future, and the astonishing landscapes it’s created.
Science Pubs are a casual lecture series located in fun venues across the region, recommended for ages 10 and over.
Tickets
$8 suggested donation | Advance tickets recommended
Zoom Option
If you are unable to join us in person, you can watch on Zoom. You must register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About the Speaker
Ellen Morris Bishop is a geologist, photographer and writer. Her life’s work is making science, especially geology, more understandable to non-scientists through images, writing, and field excursions. She received a Ph.D. in geology from Oregon State University, and has taught geology and environmental studies at the University of Arkansas and Whitman College. In 2009 she was elected an OSU Distinguished Alumni Fellow. She received the Francis Fuller Victor Oregon Book Award for In Search of Ancient Oregon. Her other books include Stories of Wallowa Lake (with Rita Ehler,) Best Hikes with Dogs in Oregon, and Hiking Oregon’s Geology. Oregon State University Press published her second edition of Living with Thunder, a book about the Pacific Northwest’s incredible geologic history, in October, 2025. She lives and works near Cornucopia on the southern flanks of Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains.
Questions? Email sciencepub@omsi.edu
Ticketing questions call 503.797.4000 x0
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are unable to join us in person, you can watch on zoom. You must register in advance via the ticketing page or the link above. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
To guarantee a seat at this event, we recommend you purchase your ticket in advance. Please show your ticket at the check-in table in front of the theater upon arrival.
We will usually have tickets available at the door. They are first-come, first-served, and admission will remain a suggested donation.
Kennedy School Theater has everything from pizza to burgers to popcorn and candy. Food and drink are welcome in the theater. No outside food or drink is allowed.
It is free to park in McMenamins Kennedy School parking lot and there is plenty of free street parking in the neighborhood
Venue Information
Sponsored by
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible Entrance