Just weeks into the new administration, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that has led to significant updates on both Apple Maps and Google Maps. This order aimed at “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” has seen the return of the name Mount McKinley to North America’s highest peak, previously known as “Denali” under the Obama administration. Mount McKinley, located in Alaska, was originally named after President William McKinley in 1896. However, in 2015, Obama restored the mountain’s native name, Denali, in recognition of the Koyukon Athabaskan heritage. This move was celebrated by Native American groups, but was also met with criticism, particularly from those in Ohio, McKinley’s home state, who saw it as an erasure of historical naming. President Trump’s order on his first day in office directed the U.S. Department of the Interior to revert these changes. The order was part of a broader initiative to honor American historical figures and landmarks. Within days, the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, was updated to reflect these changes, setting off a chain reaction across digital mapping services. Implementation by Mapping Services: • Apple Maps: Apple followed suit, updating its mapping service to reflect the name change from Denali back to Mount McKinley. Apple ensured that its maps now align with the federal government’s official nomenclature. Apple Maps users in the U.S. can now see Mount McKinley when navigating or searching for this landmark. • Google Maps: Google announced on social media platforms that it would update its maps once the GNIS was updated with the new names. Google Maps now displays “Mount McKinley” for U.S. users, with the Gulf of Mexico renamed to “Gulf of America” as per another part of the executive order. For users outside the U.S., Google maintains a dual naming system where both the new and the old names are shown, respecting international conventions. Critics of the renaming of Mount McKinley argue it’s a political move to undo what was perceived as “woke” changes by the previous administration. However, supporters of the change argue it’s about preserving American legacy and the recognition of President McKinley’s contributions. While the name change is primarily enforced within U.S. boundaries, international map users might see both names or be directed to the older names depending on the context of their search or location. This reflects a broader issue in cartography where names can change based on political, cultural, or historical shifts, requiring map services to stay abreast of such changes. We might see further adjustments in naming conventions as political fortunes change, but for the foreseeable future, Mount McKinley has reclaimed its place on digital maps across America. We are currently about 1/4th of the way to being sustainable with Substack subscriptions. Please tell your Apple-loving friends about MacDailyNews on Substack and, if you’re currently a free subscriber, please consider $5/mo. or $50/year to keep MacDailyNews going. Just hit the subscribe button. Thank you! You're currently a free subscriber to MacDailyNews. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
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Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Apple Maps restores Mount McKinley name on President Trump’s order
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