Alaska’s Mount McKinley — the tallest peak in North America — has officially borne the name of the 25th president, an Ohioan, since 1896. Lately, though, Alaskans are pushing to change that.
They say the mountain should be officially dubbed Mount Denali, the name most locals use and an homage to native Alaskans. In the indigenous language Athabaskan, Denali means “the high one” or “the great one.”
“Ohioans want to honor their native son, and Sen. Murkowski wants to honor our native people,” said Matthew Felling, Murkowski’s communication director.
The Alaska senator’s efforts oppose a decades-long tradition of Ohio congressmen introducing bills that prevent any change in the mountain’s name. They see the mountain’s name as an ode to one of Ohio’s own, the Niles-born William McKinley, and they consider preserving the name a matter of Buckeye pride.
Former Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre, and now Reps. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, and Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, have all introduced language protecting the McKinley name.
The issue might seem trivial, but Gibbs’ spokesman Dallas Gerber said it’s key to preserving the president’s legacy. “It’s important to honor past presidents in our history,” he said.
But advocates for Denali say Native Alaskan heritage far outlasts those 100 years. Alaskans have called the mountain Denali for 10,000 years, Peters said. “This isn’t changing the name. It’s really just acknowledging the name the mountain has always had.”
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