Flag History
When the United States purchased the Alaskan region from Russia in 1867, most Americans thought it was a crazy idea. For many years after, Alaska fought to become a state, but Congress refused to admit this cold, desolate place. In 1926, Alaskan members of the American Legion decided they needed more publicity for Alaska, so they held a contest in the grade schools for a design of a territorial flag. Benny Benson, an orphaned 13-year-old, won the contest. When Alaska was finally adopted as a state in 1959, the flag design stayed. The only change was the blue hue of the background. Originally, it matched the blue of forget-me-nots, the state flower; the revised color matches the blue on the American flag. The stars depict the Big Dipper constellation, symbolizing strength. The North Star was said to represent the future state of Alaska and its far northerly position.
Flag Adopted: 1927
State Nickname: The Great Land or The Last Frontier
State Motto: North to the future
Area: 586,412 square miles
Approximate Population: 402,000
Capital: Juneau
Largest City: Anchorage
Major Products: oil, minerals, timber, fish
State Bird: Ptarmigan
State Tree: Sitka Spruce
State Flower: Forget-me-not
