Cunningham Peak is a mainly ice-covered peak

Summit (topography)

In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...

, 2,170 m, at the head of Gowan Glacier

Gowan Glacier

Gowan Glacier is a glacier about 15 nautical miles long in the Heritage Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, flowing north from the vicinity of Cunningham Peak in the Founders Escarpment to enter Minnesota Glacier just east of Welcome Nunatak. Mapped by United States Geological Survey from surveys...

 along the Founders Escarpment

Founders Escarpment

Founders Escarpment is a prominent escarpment located west of Founders Peaks in the Heritage Range, extending from Minnesota Glacier to Splettstoesser Glacier. Named after the nearby Founders Peaks by the University of Minnesota Geological Party, 1963-64....

, in the Heritage Range

Heritage Range

The Heritage Range is a major mountain range, long and wide, situated southward of Minnesota Glacier and forming the southern half of the Ellsworth Mountains in Antarctica...

. Mapped by United States Geological Survey

United States Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...

 (USGS) from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1961-66. Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names

Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names

The Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names is an advisory committee of the United States Board on Geographic Names responsible for recommending names for features in Antarctica...

 (US-ACAN) for Ship's Serviceman John B. Cunningham, U.S. Navy, in charge of the McMurdo Station

McMurdo Station

McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...

 ship's store and laundry during U.S. Navy Operation Deepfreeze 1966.