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In the 19th century, Russian residents called the mountain ''Bolshaya Gora'' (the big mountain), an attempt to translate the local Indian name into Russian. In 1896, gold prospector William Dickey wrote an article for the ''New York Sun'' in which he suggested the name "Mount McKinley." This was soon after William McKinley, a supporter of the gold standard, received the Republican Party nomination for president. At first this name was treated as a political joke. After McKinley was murdered in 1901, the name Dickey had bestowed seemed a fitting tribute to the slain president.<ref>[http://usanews.co/denali-or-mckinley-how-a-19th-century-political-joke-turned-into-a-119-year-washington-post/ Denali or McKinley? How a 19th century political 'joke' turned into a 119-year]", ''Washington Post''</ref> It is used in the 1911 edition of ''Britannica''. (No other English-language name existed at that time.)<ref>"Alaska," ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' (1911).</ref>

In the 19th century, Russian residents called the mountain ''Bolshaya Gora'' (the big mountain), an attempt to translate the local Indian name into Russian. In 1896, gold prospector William Dickey wrote an article for the ''New York Sun'' in which he suggested the name "Mount McKinley." This was soon after William McKinley, a supporter of the gold standard, received the Republican Party nomination for president. At first this name was treated as a political joke. After McKinley was murdered in 1901, the name Dickey had bestowed seemed a fitting tribute to the slain president.<ref>[http://usanews.co/denali-or-mckinley-how-a-19th-century-political-joke-turned-into-a-119-year-washington-post/ Denali or McKinley? How a 19th century political 'joke' turned into a 119-year]", ''Washington Post''</ref> It is used in the 1911 edition of ''Britannica''. (No other English-language name existed at that time.)<ref>"Alaska," ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' (1911).</ref>

In June 1913, Hudson Stuck and Harry Karstens led the first expedition to the summit.<ref>Woodside, Chris, "[http://chriswoodside.com/who-led-first-ascent-denali Who led the first ascent of Denali?]"</ref> In a book published in 1918, Stuck argued that the name of the mountain should be changed to "Denali," which he claimed was the traditional Indian name of the mountain.<ref>Stuck, Hudson, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=9c55AAAAMAAJ&dq= The Ascent of Denali (Mount McKinley): A Narrative of the First Complete Ascent of the Highest Peak in North America].'' (1918)</ref> There are seven Alaskan languages with native names for the mountain. None of these correspond to "Denali" exactly. In 1972, Sylvain Saudan skied down the mountain's sheer southwest face, earning the title "skier of the impossible."

In June 1913, Hudson Stuck and Harry Karstens led the first expedition to the summit.<ref>Woodside, Chris, "[http://chriswoodside.com/who-led-first-ascent-denali Who led the first ascent of Denali?]"</ref> In a book published in 1918, Stuck argued that the name of the mountain should be changed to "Denali," which he claimed was the traditional Indian name of the mountain.<ref>Stuck, Hudson, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=9c55AAAAMAAJ&dq= The Ascent of Denali (Mount McKinley): A Narrative of the First Complete Ascent of the Highest Peak in North America].'' (1918)</ref> There are seven Alaskan languages with native names for the mountain. None of them use a name that corresponds to "Denali" exactly.<ref>The closest is Koyukon. In this language, the mountain is called ''Diinaalii'' ("the tall one") and pronounced dee·nah·lee.</ref> In 1972, Sylvain Saudan skied down the mountain's sheer southwest face, earning the title "skier of the impossible."

In 1975, the State of Alaska requested that the federal government change the name of the mountain to Denali. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has authority over U.S. geographic names, but it rarely rejects a state's request for renaming. In this case, Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula was able to use a little-known procedure to keep Alaska's request on hold for years. Finally acting on the 1975 request, President [[Barack Obama]] announced in 2015 that the mountain would be renamed.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/us/mount-mckinley-will-be-renamed-denali.html "Mount McKinley Will Again Be Called Denali,"] ''New York Times'', 30 August 2015.</ref>

In 1975, the State of Alaska requested that the federal government change the name of the mountain to Denali. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has authority over U.S. geographic names, but it rarely rejects a state's request for renaming. In this case, Ohio Congressman Ralph Regula was able to use a little-known procedure to keep Alaska's request on hold for years. Finally acting on the 1975 request, President [[Barack Obama]] announced in 2015 that the mountain would be renamed.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/us/mount-mckinley-will-be-renamed-denali.html "Mount McKinley Will Again Be Called Denali,"] ''New York Times'', 30 August 2015.</ref>