How Did Seattle's Favorite Mountain Peaks Get Their Names?

If you live in our luxury Seattle apartments, then you must know at least a little about the mountains that cascade down the coast. Yes, that pun was intended.

The Cascade Range runs for 700 miles down the west coast from southern British Columbia to Northern California, and there are heaps of striking mountain peaks that jut out and define the rugged landscape. The range, which is a part of the Pacific’s Ring of Fire, includes both volcanic and non-volcanic mountains and is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.

Of the many mountain peaks in the Cascades, a few stand out from the rest because of their popularity, size and shape. These mountains have become state icons, beloved local getaways and dramatic pieces of history both a thousand years ago and within our very own lifetimes. 

You may know of most of these peaks, and some of them may be new to you. Either way, if you’re looking to expand your knowledge on your local area, then hopefully this will aid you in your quest.

While Seattle might be growing at break-neck speed, these rocky giants have stood unchanged (mostly) for thousands of years and will continue to do so for thousands of years to come. Their names, however, are still relatively new compared to their actual age, so here’s how these popular peaks got their names. 

How Seattle’s favorite mountains got their names

Mount Rainier

Distance from Seattle: 2.5 - 3 hours

Visible from Seattle?: Of course! When it’s not raining, that is...

Arguably the most popular mountain peak in the state and definitely in Seattle, Mount Rainier stands as a proud centerpiece of Washington’s Cascade Range. It’s the highest mountain in the state as well as one of the most prominent in the Cascades, and it’s easily visible from both the eastern and western sides of the range.  

According to geological research, Mount Rainier is about 840,000 years old, based on studies of early volcanic deposits. The cone as we see it today is only about 500,000 years old, however, and there is evidence that the mountain used to reach a height of almost 16,000 feet before heavy erosion began whittling it down to the 14,410 feet it is today. 

Archeological evidence points to human activity around the mountain as far back as 7,000 B.C. when Native Americans used the region for hunting and gathering. In the Salish language, the mountain was often referred to as Talol, Tacoma, Tacobet or Tahoma, all of which are the earliest known names for the mountain. The various Native American names all roughly translate to either “mother of waters”, “snow-covered mountain” or, to be particularly specific, “taller than Mount Baker” (Ta- larger, Koma- Mount Baker). Take that, Baker.

Mount Rainier is obviously not called any of those today, although there is plenty of debate as to whether Washington’s favorite peak should be officially renamed to reflect the culture of its first inhabitants. 

Explorer Captain George Vancouver named the peak Rainier after his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier in May of 1792. Both Vancouver and Rainier were part of the British Royal Navy. It was only in 1890, however, that the United States Board on Geographic Names formally named the mountain Rainier, as it had been used interchangeably with “Mount Tacoma” for some time.

Mount Adams

Distance from Seattle: 5 hours

Visible from Seattle?: Nope. 

If you’ve ever felt embarrassed or felt like you’ve messed up, then just know that at least you didn’t accidentally name a mountain the wrong name. Because, in fact, that’s exactly what happened to Mount Adams.

Early settler J. Hall Kelley wanted to rename all the major Cascade peaks after U.S. Presidents in an effort to dedicate the entire Cascade Range as the “Presidents Range.” He had some difficulty identifying the mountains, though, and his plan to rename Mount Hood as Mount Adams ended up with the Mount Adams we have today, all because there happened to be another mountain where he thought that Mount Hood was. 

Native American names for Mount Adams are Pahto, meaning “high sloping mountain” or “very high”, and Klickitat, meaning “beyond.”

Mount Si

Distance from Seattle: 45 minutes

Visible from Seattle?: Not unless you have x-ray vision, sorry.

Although not nearly as tall as the grand peaks around it, Mount Si is a popular peak for Seattleites and surrounding neighbors who enjoy hiking and outdoor recreation. 

Mount Si is named after a 19th-century homesteader who lived near the base of the mountain, a man named Josiah “Si” Merritt. The mountain also makes appearances in stories and tales from both modern and ancient culture. 

Snoqualmie Tribe legend says that the mountain was the major location in the Story of the Moon, where two sisters returned to earth from the heavens above, landing on Mount Si. More recently, the mountain appears in the background of the opening credits for the “Twin Peaks” television series. 

Mount Olympus

Distance from Seattle: 4 hours

Visible from Seattle: Nope. Only visible by plane or by surrounding mountains!

Mount Olympus may be a hair shorter than the already shrunken Mount St. Helens, but its location at the center of an impressive mountain range provides plenty of justification for its lofty name. 

Native Americans first named the mountain and the mountain range Suhn-a-do. Explorer Juan Pérez of Spain was the first European to set sight on the mountain in 1774, naming it Cerro Nevado de Santa Rosalia (“Snowy Peak of Saint Rosalia''). Just four years later, a British explorer named John Meares set sight on the mountain in 1778 and named it Mount Olympus, a reference to the mountain of the same name that served as the home of the gods in Greek mythology. 

There are hundreds of peaks and mountains all throughout the Seattle area, and many of them have gone by many different names over their long, long lifetimes. By learning more about these great mountains’ names and histories, we may learn quite a bit about the people of the land, too!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/writertess