The Alaska Legislature passed a resolution on Friday urging President Donald Trump to reverse his decision and keep the name of North America’s tallest peak as Denali instead of changing it to Mount McKinley. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order to rename the mountain back to Mount McKinley, a name honoring President William McKinley, who was from Ohio and never visited Alaska. Trump stated that he wanted to “restore the name of a great president” to the peak, crediting McKinley for making the U.S. prosperous through tariffs and talent.
The resolution passed with a 19-0 vote in the state Senate, following a 31-8 vote in favor of the measure in the House just over a week earlier. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Maxine Dibert, a Democrat from the Koyukon Athabascan tribe. Members of that tribe originally named the mountain Denali, which means “the high one” in their language.
“Denali represents more than just a mountain,” said Rep. Maxine Dibert of Fairbanks in a statement. “It is a fundamental part of Alaska’s history, a symbol of our rich culture, and a tribute to the people who have valued this land for thousands of years.”
Late last month, the Interior Department announced that efforts were underway to carry out Trump’s order to rename the peak, despite state leaders not considering the issue resolved. J. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson for the department, said earlier this week that there were no new updates on the matter.
The National Park Service notes that in 1896, a prospector named the peak Mount McKinley in honor of William McKinley, who had been elected president that year. While there were objections to the McKinley name when it was first introduced, maps with the name had already been distributed.
The U.S. government officially recognized the name until 2015, when the Obama administration changed it to Denali.
The name change to Denali honored the traditions of Alaska Natives and reflected the preference of many Alaskans, a sentiment supported by state leaders for decades. The 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain, located in Denali National Park and Preserve, is visible on clear days from hundreds of miles away.
“Denali is our mountain’s name; it holds great significance for Alaska Natives and all people across our state,” said House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, in a statement. “The strong bipartisan support in the legislature shows that Alaskans should be the ones to decide.”