FAQs
The Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major, which symbolizes a bear, indigenous to Alaska. As depicted on the flag, its stars can be used as a guide by the novice to locate Polaris and determine true north. An eight gold stars, in the shape of "the big dipper" on a dark blue field.
Why are there 7 stars on the Alaska flag? ›
Benny Benson and the Alaska Flag
Benny Benson, a 13-year-old living in an orphanage in Seward, submitted the winning design. It showed the seven stars of the Big Dipper pointing to the North Star. Benson explained, "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower.
What does the eighth star in the upper right corner of the Alaska flag symbolize? ›
The big dipper symbolizes the great bear and strength. The large star represents the North Star (Polaris) and the State of Alaska as the most northerly in the Union. Noteworthy here is that the designer of the State Flag, Benny Benson, a 13 year old boy, looked to the sky for the symbols he included in his design.
What is Alaska's flag facts? ›
“The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaska flower. The North Star is for the future of the state of Alaska, the most northerly in the Union. The dipper is for the Great Bear – symbolizing strenth (sic).” The flag was flown for the first time on July 9, 1927.
Why is there a crescent symbol on the state flag? ›
Historian Rodger Stroup says flag originated with Col. William Moultrie, who took the blue of his soldiers' coats and the crescent shape from their hats to fashion a signal to let the city of Charleston know if and when the British were coming during the Battle of Sullivan's Island prior to the Revolutionary War.
What are the names of Alaska state symbols? ›
List of Alaska state symbols
List of state symbols |
---|
Flower | Forget-me-not |
Insect | Four-spot skimmer dragonfly |
Mammal | Land: Moose Marine: Bowhead whale |
Tree | Sitka spruce |
22 more rows
What is the motto of Alaska? ›
State Motto:
"North to the Future" - Our motto was chosen in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial and was created by Juneau newsman Richard Peter. The motto is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.
What state flag was designed by a 13 year old? ›
The following year the Alaskan legislature approved the winning design, which remained unchanged when the territory became a state in 1959. The creator of the flag was Benny Benson, a 13-year-old boy living in an orphanage. He chose straightforward symbols that struck a chord with Alaskans of all ages and backgrounds.
Which U.S. flag has only 49 stars? ›
On January 3, 1959, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10798 establishing the design of the 49-star flag. On July 4, 1959, this flag was first officially raised over Fort McHenry National Historic Site with Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton presiding.
What is the only state without a flag? ›
The Mississippi Flag is No More
Though citizens are not banned from flying the flag - a right protected by the US Constitution - it has been taken down from both the state government building and the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
The location of Alaska in the northwest extremity of the American continent and its separation from the rest of the country gave rise to the nickname of this by far the largest of the American states. Alaska is called the Last Frontier.
Why is Alaska famous? ›
Alaska is known for its wide-open spaces, abundant outdoor experiences, and Alaskan Native culture. Alaska is also one of the best places in the world in which to view the Northern Lights. From the mountains to the sea fjords, and Alaska's vast interior terrain, the 49th state is a photographer's dream.
What is the largest city in Alaska? ›
The largest municipality by population in Alaska is Anchorage with 291,247 residents or approximately 39.7% of the state population.
What is the flower of Alaska? ›
ALASKA: The Alpine Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis Alpestris) was designated the official state flower of Alaska in 1949, however it was originally adopted in 1907, before Alaska was a state or a territory.
Which is the only Alaskan city to have been governed under Four Flags? ›
Having been Tlingit territory and then under the jurisdiction of Russia, Great Britain, and the United States, Wrangell has the unique status as the only Alaskan city to have been governed under four "flags".
What do the 3 stars on the state flag represent? ›
Design: The Tennessee state flag is crimson with a blue circle in the middle containing three white stars. The three stars represent the divisions of Tennessee into middle, east and west.
Why is Forget-Me-not Alaska State flower? ›
In the early 20th century, pioneer groups ranging from Nome to Sitka formed a civic organization that would be known as the “Grand Igloo.” Representing a vast group of pioneers in Alaska, the Grand Igloo chose the forget-me-not as the symbol of constancy and perseverance – the all-encompassing embodiment of the pioneer ...
Why is there a bear on the state flag? ›
Todd, in an 1878 letter to the Los Angeles Express, states that the star was drawn using blackberry juice and in recognition of the California Lone Star Flag. The bear was designed to be a symbol of strength and unyielding resistance.
What is an Alaska bird? ›
In 1955, as leaders of the Territory of Alaska were drafting a constitution in preparation for statehood, Alaska school children chose the willow ptarmigan as a symbol of the Great Land. It became the official state bird when Alaska was made the 49th state in 1960.