The name has remained fixed to the mountain for 126 years and has been accepted by the United State Government. Mount Rainier National Park and Rainier National Forest are government titles. The mountain is known by the name Rainier all over the world. Usage, during a century and a quarter, has established the title.
It may be conceded that Tacoma is a native and euphonious word and would fitly designate the greatest of Pacific Northwest mountains. But Rainier is old and world-wide and fixed, and, moreover, is but one of many alien names in the Puget Sound region. Puget Sound is an example, and Mount Baker and Mount Saint Helens, and here in Oregon is Mount Hood.
Why Cascade Mountains?
If we were to reject Rainier for reasons of national pride or historical precedence or any other, the substitute choice would set up a troublesome debate. Mount Rainier was named Mount Harrison by Hall J. Kelley about 1838, Mount Baker was by him called Mount Tyler, and Cascade Mountains were by him designated Presidents' Range.
The name, Cascade Mountains, appears to have been an afterthought of Cascades of the Columbia River. The rapids are in the heart of the great range, and the river was the one passable route of travel and traffic from the days of Lewis and Clark. Cascades, as the name of the Columbia River narrows, is used by writers as far back as the Astor expedition. In early maps the name appears as either Cascade Range or Presidents' Range or both. Greenhow's History of Oregon and California contains a map, compiled in 1838, which gives the name Far West Mountains. Cascade Range appears in Wilkes' Narrative of Oregon in 1841. Good reasons could be adduced for changing to Presidents' Range. The name, Cascade Mountains is not a distinguishing one nor especially appropriate.
But the task of choosing "better" names in the Pacific Northwest would be endless. It may be better to bear with the ills we have than to take on others.
