This Week in Alaska History: The annual celebration of the creation of Mt. McKinley National Park is on February 26. This park has the highest point in the United States at 20,320 feet above sea level. The wildlife is plentiful in this park along with beautiful sights to see. Not surprisingly, tourists from all over the world travel to see what this park is all about.
Who Established the Mt. McKinley National Park?
Charles Sheldon founded the park on February 26, 1917. Firstly, he spent one year exploring Alaska and documenting his time there. He was most interested in the species “Dall” sheep. Soon after, Sheldon realized that he wanted to protect the land and the animals. Sheldon told fellow members of the Boone and Crockett Club that without protection the wildlife near Mount McKinley would be destroyed by hunters. Next, members of the Boone and Crockett Club swung into action and pushed a bill into the Capitol. Finally, on February 26, 1917 Sheldon personally delivered the bill to President Wilson for signing. Unfortunately, Congress did not listen to Sheldon’s pleas to return the mountain to it’s original name Denali. However, in 1980 the park was renamed to Denali National Park.
The Alaska Lands Act
Further, in 1980, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) was created to help support the National Parks. ANILCA “stipulates the designation of wilderness, subsistence management, transportation in and across parklands, use of cabins, mining, archaeological sites, scientific research studies and more. Of course, this Act affected Mount McKinley National Park in a good way. The size of the park tripled by adding 2.4 million acres of the park. Read more about the ANILCA here.
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Sources: PBS, World History and National Park Service
Image: AdobeStock
