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Senator Murkowski Files Bill to Change McKinley's Name to DenaliAlaskans have called North America's highest peak Denali for centuriesRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking sees hundreds of climbers every year as they prepare to take on North America’s largest mountain. Store owner Paul Denkewalter said what people call it depends on where they’re from. “Most climbers call it Denali. There are some climbers, European climbers and climbers from overseas who will call it McKinley because of what's written in books,” said Denkewalter. A gold prospector named the mountain back in 1896 in honor of then soon-to-be president William McKinley, even though Alaska Natives had referred to it as “Denali” for centuries. That’s why Senator Lisa Murkowski has reintroduced a bill to call it by its Athabascan name once and for all. “We just call it Denali,” Murkowski said about her fellow Alaskans. “That's what we've always called it. Denali is an Alaska Native word, an Athabascan word, and it means 'the high one.' And when you think about this incredible mountain, you think it's pretty appropriately named.” Alaskans approve of the name change. “I think it's great. I don't think President McKinley will turn over in his grave,” said Denali Parks resident Jeffery Shelton. Not everyone is on board, however. President McKinley was from Ohio and lawmakers there want to keep his name on the Alaska attraction. "Mount McKinley has borne the name of our 25th president for over 100 years," said Congressman Tim Ryan. "We must retain this national landmark's name in order to honor the legacy of this great American president and patriot." Alaskans say Ohio needs to butt out of the Last Frontier’s business. “I think it's a big joke. I don't think anyone from Ohio should have any say in Alaska,” said Shelton. “To name peaks after people is kind of a short term thing because times change, people change, we don't even remember who the person is we named the mountain after. Naming it Denali could be an eternal name, one that will last forever,” said Denkewalter. Senator Murkowski’s office said this will bill likely get lumped in with a larger set like interior appropriations or a land bill before it would head to the Senate floor. They’re hoping for a vote sometime within the next year. |
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Glad said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 7:38 PM
I'm sure she had nothing better to do for the country than this.
112488621SidneyHill said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 7:45 PM
Impeach Obama Lisa! Reinstate Glass-Steagall Lisa! Endorse HCR 3 Lisa!
112488922doug said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 9:28 PM
Denali in native means the great one. Lisa ,make up a wrist band and distribute it like you did for the vote so they will understand.Why dont you achieve something that really matters for Alaska not washington
112493382JC said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 9:58 PM
Why are we paying the senators salary to argue about a ROCK! it's a mountain, DIRT. Most Alaskans can care less. STOP WASTING Taxpayer Money on something so TRIVIAL!.
112494471TedtheBear said on Tuesday, Jan 29 at 11:58 PM
Jeffrey Shelton should remembered that part of the money used to fund Denali National Park come from the people of Ohio and other parts of the United States. Mount McKinley belonged to the people of the United States. Not just to Jeffrey Shelton and selective few members of some inverts. And to Mr. Denklewalter, when was the last time a major peak was renamed? When our nation fall some day, then McKinley will be rename by some foreign power. But that hasn't happen yet! William McKinley served our nation with honor during the Civil War and his legacy as our President was quite high. It was his misfortune to be followed by Theodore Roosevelt who overshadowed him at every turn. But he was cruelly assassinated as our President and honoring this mountain after him is least can we do, We should not dishonored a man who served our nation well. After 1120 years, anything less is detestable, dishonorable and selfish minded.
112497661TedtheBear said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 12:01 AM
That should read "112 years"....not 1120 years!
112497681Me said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 12:31 AM
I'm going to start calling it "that mountain thingy that has always been" And after Lisa slides it into some useless feel good bill that all the trash in Washington will vote "yes" on, I'll be like "good job Lisa" NOT. Lisa's legacy, Do nothing and rename a hill of dirt that kills people, like most of her votes.
112498536tim said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 10:30 AM
This is just like weinergate. Distract the idiotic masses from the real issues at. No one cares, no one will care.
112532346nancyglaubitz said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 4:54 PM
This is insane. It would cost millions of dollars if this bill passes. it seems inocuous - but - imagine the cost to change state literature, text books, maps, promotional literature for State. Some businesses are named with the Mt McKinley moniker. Now imagine most of these costs not only applying to Alaska, but also to the books, and map changes that would affect the whole country. Totally unnecessary. Most everyone nationally knows that Denali is synomous to Mt McKinley.
112558135Lucky said on Wednesday, Jan 30 at 5:17 PM
We are lucky to have people like Lisa working on things like this instead wasting time on things like the economy, budgets, social security. What a good thing that she was voted in, oh and the pork.
112559645Rachel said on Thursday, Jan 31 at 1:54 PM
Great idea! It should be named Denali, as it always has been. Pres. McKinley had nothing to do with Alaska or the mountain and it's time to change it to the true name. Go, Sen. Murkowski!
112620301TedtheBear said on Friday, Feb 1 at 9:42 AM
Rachel, just remember that Mount McKinley belong to the people of the United States and not just to the people of Alaska. You are an American are you not? Great things happened to Alaska during President McKinley's administration as our President. Basic foundation of Alaska territory was laid. Of course, if you are native, you can say the opposite since McKinley era began the "whitening of Alaska" so to speak as more whites then ever before move into Alaska thanks to the gold rushes.
112675416TedtheBear said on Friday, Feb 1 at 10:04 PM
Something for Lisa Murkowski to considered before wasting our taxpayer money on stupid name changing. Mount St. Elias.....named after some saint. Mount Foraker.......named after some senator from Ohio Mount Bona..........named after a yacht Mount Blackburn.....named after senator from KY Mount Sanford.......named after non-Alaskan family Mount Fairweather...named by Capt Cook because it was fairweather that day. Mount Hubbard......named after president of National Geographic Society All these names represent Alaska's highest peaks after McKinley, named after people not directly associated with Alaska and they got some sort of native names. Murkowski's effort reeked of hypocrisy.
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