Last week, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names (BGN) voted in favor of a request by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to change the name of the highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP). Formally known as Clingmans Dome, the peak’s name has been restored to the Cherokee name, Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee and spelled ᎫᏬᎯ in Cherokee syllabary), which translates to “mulberry place.” The application was filed by EBCI members Mary Crowe and Lavita Hill, who began their efforts to restore the name back in 2022.
“I am still in a little bit of shock…But I feel like this is an incredible victory for our people,” Hill told Cherokee One Feather. “What started as a fun idea transpired into reclaiming our native language on a significant mountain within the park. Before my first visit to Kuwohi to meet with a reporter I was nervous, but my sister said our ancestors are with you. And that gave me the motivation and determination to do the work.”
The NPS acknowledged Kuwohi is a sacred place for the Cherokee people. The highest point within the traditional homeland can be seen from the Qualla Boundary, the home of the EBCI. The park closes the area for three half days out of the year for predominantly Cherokee schools to visit Kuwohi to learn the history of the mountain, and Cherokee language speakers, elders, culture bearers, and community members all contribute to telling the area’s history.
“The Great Smoky National Park team was proud to support this effort to officially restore the mountain and to recognize its importance to the Cherokee People,” park superintendent Cassius Cash said in a statement. “The Cherokee People have had strong connections to Kuwohi and the surrounding area, long before the land became a national park. The National Park Service looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee People to share their story and preserve this landscape together.”
With more than 650,000 visitors per year, Kuwohi is one of the most visited sites in GSMNP. Kuwohi is not only the tallest point in the park, it’s the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest east of the Mississippi River. Efforts are already underway to update signage, websites, and other materials with the Kuwohi name.
Cover photo: View from Kuwohi in April 2023. Courtesy of NPS
