A Little History

As Denali National Park and Reserve is such a timeless place, it is difficult to outline a history dependant on dates. As, establishment of Denali National Park was proposed to Congress in 1916, and approved as Mt. McKinley National Park, February 26, 1917. The dispute over the name was sort of a moot point for awhile, as it wasn't until 1921 that funds were advanced to staff the park.

Of far more interest are all of the larger-than-life individuals who had something to do with saving the wildest of wild Alaska. Men that showed that macho means so much more than meeting the challenge of frontier life by destruction. It took real heroes to walk among bears and wolves, unafraid, to show us the way to bring our grandchildren to Stony Point, to say, "See. This is what it means to be a part of this great land."

Such individuals as Charles Sheldon, Harry Karstens, Charlie McGonagall, Adolph and Olaus Murie, Carl Ben Eielson, Bradford Washburn, and Don Sheldon (pictured), all deserve much more space than is available here.

So, this too is a natural selection devise. You want to visit this special place, then do your homework. All of the above have books written about their contribution to the parks history.