Obama Restores Mount McKinley To Its Original Name, Denali

Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America, renamed in 1896 in honor of the U.S. President William McKinley, was restored to its original Alaskan name, Denali, by President Barack Obama.

MOUNT MCKINLEY RENAMED DENALI

For decades the name of Mount McKinley has been a topic of debate. In 1896, a gold prospector, who heard that William McKinley had been nominated for president, renamed the mountain in his honor.

Obama has decided the mountain’s name would revert back to Denali, the traditional Alaskan name, while on a three-day visit there to raise awareness of climate change.

The original name, Denali, meaning “High One” or “The Great One,” is still used by locals.

Some are displeased with Obama’s decision. John Boehner, Republican Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, stated that he was disappointed with Obama’s decision to rename the mountain. “There is a reason President McKinley’s name has served atop the highest peak in North America for more than 100 years, and that is because it is a testament to his great legacy.”

Alaska has often attempted to revert the name back to Denali over the years, but were blocked by William McKinley’s home state, Ohio. Alaska Senator, Lisa Murkowski, who has been campaigning for the name change, tweeted yesterday, “Today we are honored to recognize America’s highest peak officially as Denali, or ‘The Great One.’”

Denali stands at 20,237ft, or 6,168m, as the highest mountain in North America.