Within hours of taking office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at celebrating American history by renaming significant landmarks.
One of his most notable actions was reversing the name of North America’s tallest peak from Denali back to Mount McKinley in honor of the 25th U.S. president, William McKinley.
This decision sparked debates over the role of place names in shaping national identity, cultural heritage, and historical memory.
Beyond Mount McKinley, Trump also directed the U.S. Interior Department to collaborate with Alaska Natives and other communities to rename various landmarks, ensuring that history and culture were appropriately represented.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names plays a crucial role in such naming decisions, maintaining official place names for federal use.
The History of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has existed since 1890, created to standardize place names across the country.
Why Was It Established?
After the American Civil War, settlers and prospectors heading west encountered inconsistent place names on maps. To resolve the confusion, President Benjamin Harrison established the board through an executive order.
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt expanded the board’s role, making it responsible for renaming locations and assigning names to unnamed features.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt temporarily dissolved the board in 1934, shifting its duties to the Interior Department. However, after World War II, Congress reestablished the board, ensuring its continued oversight of geographic naming policies.
The board consists of officials from various federal agencies, including the Interior and Commerce Departments, the Post Office, the Library of Congress, and even the CIA for international place names. Members serve two-year terms and meet monthly to review naming proposals.
What’s in a Name? The Cultural and Historical Significance of Geographic Names
Place names in the U.S. reflect its diverse history, from Native American names to those left by European explorers and settlers. The BGN recognizes that geographic names shape national identity and ensure historical continuity.
For example, many landmarks across the U.S. bear Native American names, reflecting their cultural significance long before European settlers arrived. Denali, the traditional name for North America’s tallest peak, is one such case.
The Controversy Over Denali vs. Mount McKinley
The 20,310-foot peak, known to the Koyukon Athabaskans as “deenaalee,” meaning “the high one,” was renamed Mount McKinley in 1896 by a gold prospector who supported then-presidential candidate William McKinley.
McKinley, who later became the 25th U.S. president, had no connection to Alaska and never visited the state. Still, the name stuck.
For decades, Alaskans and Native groups pushed to restore the peak’s original name. Their efforts were blocked repeatedly until 2015, when President Barack Obama issued an order officially recognizing “Denali” for federal purposes.
Trump’s Reversal
In 2017, President Donald Trump ordered the name to be changed back to Mount McKinley, citing his administration’s goal of “celebrating American greatness.
However, this decision reignited debates over cultural heritage and whether such name changes should prioritize Native American history or presidential legacy.
Now, new efforts in Alaska aim to reestablish “Denali” as the official name. The Interior Department recently updated its federal Geographic Names Information System to reflect “Denali,” but private mapping services like Google and Apple Maps may continue to use different names.
The Impact of Name-Changing Campaigns in the U.S.
Over the decades, the BGN has taken steps to address offensive or outdated place names.
Major Name Changes in U.S. History
In the 1960s and 1970s, the board removed derogatory terms related to Japanese and Black Americans from place names.
In 2008, Phoenix’s Squaw Peak was renamed Piestewa Peak in honor of Army Spc. Lori Piestewa, the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
From 2021 to 2023, former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland initiated a review of offensive names across the country, leading to the renaming of hundreds of sites.
In 2023, Mount Evans in Colorado was renamed Mount Blue Sky after requests from Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.
These changes reflect growing awareness of how geographic names affect cultural identity, historical narratives, and public memory.
Who Can Propose a Name Change?
Anyone, including individuals, government agencies, Native American tribes, and historical organizations, can propose a name change. However, the Board on Geographic Names requires strong evidence and community support.
Board Policies on Name Changes
The proposed name should be widely accepted by the local community.
Derogatory names are prohibited.
The board does not consider names of living individuals or those who have been dead for less than five years.
Once approved, the name is added to the Geographic Names Information System, which contains over 2.5 million official place names in the U.S.
President Trump’s decision to restore “Mount McKinley” reflected his broader effort to honor past American figures, but it also reignited long-standing debates about who gets to define U.S. history through geographic names.
The controversy over Denali is just one example of how place names carry deep cultural and political significance.
As new campaigns emerge to rename landmarks in line with historical accuracy, cultural respect, and evolving social values, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names will continue to play a critical role in shaping how the nation’s geography tells its story.