Gallery: Photos and Melted Artifacts From a Horrific Volcanic Disaster

  • Image may contain Archaeology Building Architecture Pillar and Column
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    01

    Stacked glasses DF-140521-8627

    Before they were melted together, these glasses were stacked in a café.
  • Image may contain Art Sculpture and Statue
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    02

    Glass bottle-DF

    This twisted piece of glass was once a Champagne bottle.
  • Image may contain Human Person Soil Clothing Apparel and People
    ©AMNH Library
    03

    Hovey and team

    The American Museum of Natural History sent geologist Edmund Hovey (second from right) to understand the science behind the tragedy.
  • Image may contain Transportation Train Track Railway Rail Human and Person
    © AMNH Library
    04

    St. Pierre, 1898

    Before it was destroyed, St. Pierre was called the "Paris of the West Indies." In addition to rum, cocoa, and coffee trade, it had a theater, grand hotel, and lovely botanic garden.
  • Image may contain Human Person Rubble Art and Painting
    © AMNH Library
    05

    St. Pierre, 1902

    Post-eruption, looking east down a side street in St. Pierre.
  • Image may contain Text Transportation and Vehicle
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    06

    Street sign DF-140521-8644

    The arrows point to dents that were probably made by tiny pebbles hurled in the super fast, burning cloud that destroyed St. Pierre. Rue Victor Hugo was the city's main drag.
  • Image may contain Rock Mineral and Rubble
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    07

    Bread crust bomb DF-140521-8650

    This is a cooled chunk of lava found by Hovey in the ruins of a rum distillery five miles away from the crater.
  • Image may contain Crystal and Rock
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    08

    Stacked glasses DF-140521-8633

    Mt. Pelée sent out a cloud of ash so hot it fused these glasses together.
  • Image may contain Bead Accessories and Accessory
    © AMNH/Denis Finnin
    09

    Glass door knob-DF

    This doorknob melted more on one side than the other, because the cloud of ash was moving so fast. Nearby trees were similarly affected, with one side scorched and the other showing almost no damage.
  • Image may contain Human Person Nature Outdoors and Mountain
    ©AMNH Library/ 24832
    10

    Mt Pelee spine

    After the eruption, a spine of ash protruded from the ruined top of Mt. Pelée. The so-called "Needle of Pelée" collapsed within a few months.
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