Alaska's Mount McKinley is getting a new name - sort of - after 100 years.
LA Times reports that on Monday, President Barack Obama and his administration are officially redesignating Alaska's Mt. McKinley as Denali - restoring the original name for the 20,237-foot-high mountain considered the tallest in North America,President Obama announced on Sunday that he will be renaming the majestic mountain to its old one, as reported by New York Times.
"In changing the name from Mount McKinley to Denali, we intend no disrespect to the legacy of President McKinley," Interior Department officials said in prepared documents as cited by The Washington Post. "We are simply reflecting the desire of most Alaskans to have an authentically Alaskan name for this iconic Alaskan feature."
"With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in a statement, as reported by LA Times.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker happily affirmed the change. "Alaska's place names should reflect and respect the rich cultural history of our state, and officially recognizing the name Denali does just that," he said in a statement to LA Times.
"I'd like to thank the president for working with us to achieve this significant change to show honor, respect, and gratitude to the Athabascan people of Alaska," says Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who led the fight for the Denali name in Congress, as reported by Reuters.
The proverbial hammer was put down on the eve of Obama's trip to Alaska. On his first visit to the state, The New York Times reports that he will be spending three days promoting the fight against climate change. Additionally, he will be hearing out and addressing the concerns of Alaska Native tribes where he will also be making the Denali announcement. It can be noted that Obama first incumbent president to visit the state.
According to LA Times, his itinerary will include hiking at the Exit Glacier of Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward and riding aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Wednesday will see him visiting communities in the Arctic region.The president is not scheduled to visit Denali as per LA Times.
History
The central Alaska mountain has officially been called Mount McKinley for almost a century. Alaska's Native population named it Denali, meaning "the high one" or "the great one." New York Times narrates that the mountain came to be known as Mount McKinley when a gold prospector, after hearing that Mr. McKinley had won the Republican presidential nomination, declared that the tallest peak should be named in his honor.
In 1975, a move to switch the name back to Denali happened with the support of the Alaskan legislature, as told by The Washington Post. However, Ohio Rep. Ralph Regula, who represents the district where McKinley grew up, countered the proposal and convinced the entire Ohio congressional delegation to oppose the recommendation. As compromise, he amended the 1980 legislation naming the surrounding national park, 'Denali' but retaining the name 'McKinley' for the peak.