• Image of Mount McKinley and the Alaska Range

    Denali

    National Park & Preserve Alaska

Superintendent's Welcome

Superintendent Don Striker

Superintendent Don Striker with NPS Alaska Region Director Sue Masica and Deputy Director Joel Hard

Welcome to Denali National Park and Preserve

This year we celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the first successful summit of Mount McKinley, or Denali, the tallest peak on the North American continent and the crowning glory of the park that bears its name. On June 7, 1913 four men -- Walter Harper, Harry Karstens, Hudson Stuck, and Robert Tatum -- made history by being the first to set foot on the true summit. Karstens, a true Alaskan "sourdough" would make history again in a few years by becoming the first superintendent of the fledgling Mount McKinley National Park at a time when, with the park in its infancy, his unique skills would come in handy. We owe much of what we have here today to his leadership and perseverance.

  • To mark this milestone event, the park is partnering with Alaska Geographic to produce a commemorative exhibit "First Ascent of Denali, 1913-2013" for display this summer at the Eielson Visitor Center and Talkeetna Ranger Station. Be sure to see it.
  • The park is also a proud sponsor and contributor to "Legacy: 100 Years on the Mountain," a special exhibit at the Museum of the North, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. It includes rarely-seen artifacts and family treasures passed down through generations from the original climbers.
  • A summer speaker series on pioneer and other significant climbs of Mount McKinley will take place in the Denali Visitor Center's Karstens Theater from June to August.
  • To end events with an eye to the future, the park is partnering with the American Alpine Club to host a Sustainable Summits Conference in Talkeetna Sept 8 to 11 for managers, climbers, planners and scientists representing the world's mountainous areas.
For the latest about these and other events, click HERE.

Join us as we celebrate the accomplishment of the first successful summit, and immerse yourself in this special place that Karstens dedicated himself to protecting for future generations. It is because of his dedication, and that of countless others, that we look forward to celebrating more significant centennial anniversaries -- that of the National Park Service in 2016, and Denali National Park and Preserve in 2017. Mark your calendars to come visit us again.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Don Striker

 
Logo for "First Ascent of Denali"

CLICK for more about events and exhibits

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Did You Know?

Climate warming has affected Denali's snowfall, snowmelt, and greenup

Recent climate warming has affected Denali in ways that are readily apparent, such as reduced spring snowfall, earlier snowmelt, earlier green-up and thawing of permanent snowfields. Subarctic ecosystems, like Denali, are extremely sensitive to climate variability and change.