Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on Sunday directed that Mount McKinley in Denali National Park be known as Denali going forward/NPS
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on Sunday directed that Mount McKinley be officially renamed "Denali," the traditional Koyukon Athabascan name of the peak embraced by Denali National Park and Preserve.
Secretary Jewell gained the support of President Obama to issue a Secretarial Order that officially changes the name. Secretary Jewell is granted the authority to make such changes in certain cases per the 1947 federal law that provides for the standardization of geographic names through the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, according to a release Sunday from the Interior Department.
"The name change will be reflected in all federal usage," the release added.
“This name change recognizes the sacred status of Denali to many Alaska Natives,” Secretary Jewell said. “The name Denali has been official for use by the State of Alaska since 1975, but even more importantly, the mountain has been known as Denali for generations. 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.”
Since 1987 and until Sunday, the official name of the mountain in federal publications has been Mount McKinley. The mountain retained the federally authorized name Mount McKinley, even as the name of the national park was changed in 1980 from Mount McKinley National Park into the new (and larger) area named Denali National Park and Preserve under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
“Recognizing the long history and discussion about the name of this iconic American mountain, the time has come to restore the traditional Alaska Native title Denali for this landmark, which holds great significance to the people of Alaska,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.
The mountain's McKinley name dates to 1896, when a prospector emerged from exploring the mountains of central Alaska and received news that William McKinley had been nominated as a candidate for President of the United States. In a show of support, the prospector declared the tallest peak of the Alaska Range as Mount McKinley – and the name stuck.
For centuries, the mountain that rises more than 20,000 feet above sea level, the tallest on the North American continent, had been known by another name – Denali. McKinley, our 25th president, was tragically assassinated just six months into his second term, but he never set foot in Alaska.
On March 11, 1975, Governor Jay S. Hammond of Alaska requested that the Secretary of the Interior direct the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to officially designate Mount McKinley in Alaska as Denali. This proposal, never withdrawn, is based on a resolution that was passed by the Alaska State Legislature.
Since 1977, the Board, in deference to potential congressional action, had not resolved the proposal for changing the federally recognized geographic name from Mount McKinley to Denali. Secretary Jewell’s action today finally resolves the March 1975 petition by former Governor Hammond.
Denali National Park & Preserve, where the mountain is located, was established in 1917 and annually sees more than 500,000 visitors to the 6 million acres that now make up the park and preserve. About 1,200 mountaineers attempt to summit the mountain each year; typically about half are successful.
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Comments
His "approved method of Presidential travel" is to move his chair from the desk to press room. Its no wonder you don't get the irony of one berating fossil fuel based consumption by burning fossil fuels to do it. Personally, enivironmentally I have no problem with him flying though it is a huge waste of taxpayer dollars.
The point of being president, I should think, is to set an example that the American people can follow and trust. As Harry Truman put it, the buck stops here. Would Truman have flown to Alaska to point out climate change? Maybe. But more likely, he would have given that speech from the Oval Office as a reminder that he was serious. These days, the more presidents travel, the less serious they seem to sound. Rick, you will pardon me for wanting a serious president--someone who knows how to lead and not just talk.
And with that, I trust that your check is also in the mail. Speaking of being serious, we need to get serious about the Traveler's next ten years. Kurt can no longer do it all, nor is it fair that we ask. Talk is cheap; the Traveler will cost us. But consider the leadership void it fills.
As a geographer, I generally look to the locals to know the names of the places near them and to pronounce those names correctly. Plus, since most Alaskans seem to have wanted the great one to be called Denali for a long time, I am happy for this change.
Thank you Rick B and d-2, I agree. Thanks also to the President for making this trip. In my own experience, I have found those that only sit behind desks are usually much less informed and effective than those who "get around".
A good point about getting around, Ron, but why did he wait until the seventh year of his administration to do it? Clinton and Bush were the same, only flying into the national parks when it suited some other agenda.
"I have found those that only sit behind desks are usually much less informed and effective than those who "get around". "
Unfortunately this President doesn't "get around" to get informed.
Eric, off topic cheap shots are, well, cheap.
Gee Rick, I thought we were talking about the President's trip. And there was nothing cheap about it. By the way an interesting article: http://www.wsj.com/articles/obamas-half-baked-alaska-1441321015