It’s hard times for famous Americans these days. Either Hamilton or Jackson is slated to lose his place on the money, and Ohio’s William McKinley has now lost his spot on the tallest mountain in the U.S. It’s now officially to be called Denali, a native Alaskan name that means “the high one.”
Ironically, while it’s a favorite stop on Alaska cruises, most visitors barely see it, because it’s so often shrouded in clouds. Cruise Critic estimates that perhaps 30% of the visitors who dock nearby each year actually get to see the top of the peak.
McKinley’s name on the peak has been an irritant for Alaskans for years, since McKinley never visited Alaska; his supporters named it for him while he was running for President the first time, in 1896. The park of which it’s a part was renamed Denali in 1980, but Ohio’s Congressional delegation, much bigger than Alaska’s, has blocked the proposal since 1975, leaving it up to the Interior Department, which made the announcement just ahead of Pres. Obama’s visit to the state.
Good point…new name as far as official government name goes…old name as far as local peoples are concerned!
A new name, or an old name?