The name of Clingmans Dome has officially been restored to Kuwohi, which is the Cherokee name for the mountain and translates to “mulberry place.” This is one of the most popular sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year, and it is the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River. Here are the top 4 things to know about the Kuwohi name restored to the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Official Name Restored by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recently voted in favor of the formal request submitted by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to officially restore the name of Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (in Cherokee syllabary, the name is ᎫᏬᎯ). The BGN is a Federal body created in 1890 and established in its present form by Public Law in 1947 to maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the Federal Government. The National Park Service strongly supported the name restoration and applauded the decision, which also received support from local communities and governments.
2. History of the Proposal
The proposal was submitted in January of 2024 by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks following an effort started in 2022 by Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, both enrolled EBCI citizens, to restore the traditional name of the summit. Kuwohi is a sacred place for the Cherokee people and is the highest point within the traditional Cherokee homeland (Kuwohi is visible from the Qualla Boundary, the home of the EBCI). Efforts are already underway to update signage around the park, website information and other materials with the Kuwohi name.
3. Why the Name Had Changed to Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome has always been known as Kuwohi to the Cherokee People. However, the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains became known as Clingmans Dome following an 1859 survey by geographer Arnold Guyot, named for Thomas Lanier Clingman who was a lawyer, U.S. Representative and Senator from North Carolina, and Confederate Brigadier General.
4. Support From Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cassius Cash, superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the time of the official name change, stated that “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”. He also said that “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.”
Now that you know about the Kuwohi name restored to the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, you’ll also be interested to know that the Clingmans Dome Visitor Center is now officially the Kuwohi Visitor Center. We highly recommend starting your day at one of the excellent visitor center facilities - learn about some of the things to do at Smoky Mountain Visitor Centers!
