Alaska State Flags

When did Alaska Enter Statehood?

The land that became Alaska came into U.S. possession in 1867, when William Seward, secretary of state under President Andrew Johnson, negotiated a deal to buy the 586,000-square-mile area from Russia for $7.2 million, less than 2 cents per acre. Seward’s decision was ridiculed in the American press, who saw no potential in the vast, inhospitable and sparsely populated area. Russia was having a hard time back then due to lack of resources which is why they needed to remove one piece of the empire in order to gain more profit in the long run. This problem led them to ultimately sell Alaska to the Americans rather than ensuing a battle that will lead the British to conquer it, thus negotiating a more peaceful and wiser deal than ever.

In the 1890s, gold rushes in Alaska and the nearby Yukon Territory brought thousands of miners and settlers to Alaska. Alaska was granted territorial status in 1912 by the United States of America. On Jan. 3, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Alaska to the Union. Alaska was granted U.S. statehood on January 3, 1959. There were lots of changes in the law, as well as letting people adjust to it before it became official which is why it took years before it was declared that Alaska became part of the USA.

The 49th state of the United States of America was a gem, untarnished and unhinged. This isolated and harsh awareness was developed because just about one-third of the state is divided into political units. There are 13 boroughs - much like counties.

Why is Alaska Referred to "The Last Frontier"?

The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "Aleyska," meaning "great land." Due to its massive size and wild expanses, there are large sections of the state that remain mostly unexplored. Sure, the landscapes have been mapped by satellite, and planes have flown over much of the area. But there are vast portions that are incredibly remote and difficult to reach, resulting in few (if any) people ever visiting. Alaska is called “The Last Frontier”, because of its opportunities and many lightly settled regions. Alaska’s long summer days have also earned it the moniker “Land of the Midnight Sun,” which is quite fitting, considering the nearly 24 hours of daylight the state experiences in June and July. This nickname refers to Alaska's northern locations where, for a period of time, in the summer, the sun never completely dips below the horizon. The sun is visible at midnight. Parts of Alaska are bathed in 24 hours of daylight. In Barrow, the sun doesn't set for 84 days.

What is the Design of the Alaska State Flag?

The flag of Alaska consists of eight gold stars, forming the Big Dipper and Polaris, on a dark blue field. The Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major which symbolizes a bear, an animal 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, which varies considerably from a magnetic north. The design was created by Benny Benson of Seward and selected from among roughly 700 entries in a 1927 contest. The Alaska state flag winning design was selected for its simplicity, originality, and symbolism. Bennie received a 1,000-dollar scholarship and a watch for his winning entry in the flag design contest.

Seward honors him with a monument on 3rd Avenue.

What is the Meaning of the Alaska State Flag?

Alaska's state flag features The Big Dipper ("Ursa Major" or "Great Bear" constellation) as a symbol of strength, and Polaris (the North Star) as a symbol of Alaska's northern location and "the ever constant star for the mariner, the explorer, hunter, trapper, prospector, woodsman, and the surveyor..." (quote from legislation). The blue background represents the sky, sea, lakes, and wildflowers of Alaska (the official state flower is also blue). The stars emblazoned on this background can be seen clearly in the Alaskan sky. The North Star is an appropriate symbol for Alaska as its the northernmost part of the United States.

When was the Alaska State Flag Adopted?

The territories of the United States typically did not have flags of their own prior to statehood. Alaska nevertheless held a competition in 1926, sponsored by the American Legion, which sought a distinctive territorial flag. The following year the Alaskan legislature approved the winning design, which remained unchanged when the territory entered statehood. Alaska adopted the flag for official state use in 1959.

What Song was Inspired by the Alaska State Flag?

Every state has some kind of a song, not all of which are official. But Alaska is the only state whose song was inspired and written specifically about its flag. "Alaska's Flag" was adopted as the official state song of Alaska in 1955. The connection between the song and the flag happened both by design and circumstance. It was the result of the linkage among three individuals: Benny Benson, Marie Drake, and Elinor Dusenbury. They did not directly collaborate, but instead, Marie Drake built on the work of Benny Benson, and Elinor Dusenbury built on the work of the other two. Benny Benson inspired the effort, Marie Drake wrote the lyrics, and Elinor Dusenbury composed the song. Marie Drake was a long-time employee of the Alaska Department of Education, and Elinor Dusenbury's husband was commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933 to 1936. Below are the lyrics to the state song:

Eight stars of gold on a field of blue -

Alaska's flag. May it mean to you

The blue of the sea, the evening sky,

The mountain lakes, and the flow'rs nearby;

The gold of the early sourdough's dreams,

The precious gold of the hills and streams;

The brilliant stars in the northern sky,

The "Bear" - the "Dipper" - and, shining high,

The great North Star with its steady light,

Over land and sea a beacon bright.

Alaska's flag - to Alaskans dear,

The simple flag of a last frontier.