Denali Vs Mount McKinley: Dispute Around Naming USA’s Tallest Mountain Predates Trump

Standing at 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) tall in south-central Alaska, the towering mountain is the highest peak in North America. It is known as Denali (meaning “Great One”) in the Athabascan language of the Koyukon Alaska Native people of the region north of the summit, although at least eight other Indigenous groups have used unique names for the mountain, according to the National Park Service. Early Russian explorers also had several names for the mountain such as Bulshaia Gora, which translates to “Big One.”

When the US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, a bunch of new English names came into the fray, such as “Densmore Mountain” after a gold prospector named Frank Densmore who explored much of the new Alaskan state.

Another popular name was “Mount McKinley” honoring President-elect William McKinley, which received publicity in 1897 after a New York Sun article published an article with the moniker. When President McKinley was assassinated in 1901, the name was further popularized, despite the man having no direct connection to Alaska. 

“Mount McKinley National Park” became the official name of the region after it was signed into law on February 26, 1917 – despite some significant opposition that argued it should be called “Denali National Park”. 

The debate quietly rumbled on until 1975, when the State of Alaska petitioned the US Board on Geographic Names to officially change the name to Denali. The move might have been successful, but it was repeatedly blocked by the congressional delegation of Ohio (the home state of former President McKinley). 

The next big step came in 2015 when President Barack Obama ordered Mount McKinley to be renamed Denali to “reflect the heritage of Alaska Natives,” with the announcement explaining that “Denali is a site of significant cultural importance to many Alaska Natives. The name ‘Denali’ has been used for many years and is widely used across the state today.”

Signaling a clear shift in direction, President Trump reversed this policy on his inauguration day in an effort to restore names “that honor American Greatness”.

According to a White House announcement, the renaming aims to recognize that President McKinley led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War, drove economic growth, and championed tariffs – an economic tool that Trump has shown significant interest in.

“After nearly a century, President Obama’s administration, in 2015, stripped the McKinley name from federal nomenclature, an affront to President McKinley’s life, his achievements, and his sacrifice,” the statement reads.

“This order honors President McKinley for giving his life for our great Nation and dutifully recognizes his historic legacy of protecting America’s interests and generating enormous wealth for all Americans,” it added.

So, for now, the highest peak in North America will soon be officially known as Mount McKinley. However, don’t expect the dispute around its name to die down any time soon.