The Great Smoky Mountains’ highest peak returns to Native American name

Photo byrunwildmychild

The highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is officially reverting to its Cherokee name, Kuwohi, more than 150 years after it was named for a Confederate general.

The U.S. Board of Geographic Names approved the change on Wednesday, honoring a request from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Kuwohi, meaning "mulberry place," holds deep significance for the Cherokee people. It is the highest point in their traditional homeland and can be seen from the Qualla Boundary, the Cherokee's current home. Each year, Cherokee schools visit the mountain to learn about its rich history.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, is America’s most visited national park, and Kuwohi is one its most popular sites, with more than 650,000 visitors per year.

Formerly known as Clingmans Dome, the peak was named in 1859 after Thomas Lanier Clingman, a Confederate Brigadier General. Now, the name Kuwohi reflects the mountain’s cultural roots.

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