Flag of Alaska
Encyclopedia
The flag
of the state of Alaska consists of eight gold stars, forming the Big Dipper
and the North Star
, 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.
sponsored a territorial contest for Alaskan children in grades seven through twelve. Winning the contest in 1927, the design of Benny Benson
, a 13-year-old Alaska Native residing at the Jesse Lee Home for Children
in Seward
, was chosen to represent the future of the Alaska Territory
. Up to that time, Alaskans had flown only the U.S. flag since the territory was purchased from Russia
in 1867. Benson's design was chosen over roughly 700 other submissions from schoolchildren territory-wide in grades 7–12. Most other entries featured variations on the territorial seal, the midnight sun
, the northern lights
, polar bears, and/or gold pans
. To celebrate his achievement, Benson was awarded US$1,000 and an engraved watch
.
Benny looked to the sky for the symbols he included in his design. Choosing the familiar constellation he looked for every night before going to sleep at the orphanage
, he submitted this description with it:
Russian-American Company
The Russian-American Company
(RAC) flag was authorized under Czar Alexander I
in 1806. It was the first special flag granted by the Russian government to any private company. The flag was granted on September 19, 1806, by the Saint Petersburg
offices. The RAC flag was authorized to be raised over Russian fortifications and on RAC ships in place of naval flags.
The RAC flag has three stripes: the lower red, the middle blue, and the upper and wider stripe white. Painted on the flag is the Russian imperial crest, the double-headed eagle. A ribbon hanging from the talons of the eagle has the inscription, "Russian American Company" . On the breast of the double headed eagle is a square with a red shield and Saint George
on a white steed
looking to the left.
The flag flew over Alaska until October 18, 1867, when all Russian-American Company holdings in Alaska were sold to the United States.
and appliqué
d gold stars, and was inaugurally flown July 9, 1927. It was retained as the state flag upon statehood
in 1959.
The flag's symbolism is described in the state song, "Alaska's Flag
".
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
of the state of Alaska consists of eight gold stars, forming the Big Dipper
Big Dipper
The Plough, also known as the Big Dipper or the Saptarishi , is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial...
and the North Star
Polaris
Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....
, on a dark blue field.
The Big Dipper is an asterism
Asterism (astronomy)
In astronomy, an asterism is a pattern of stars recognized on Earth's night sky. It may form part of an official constellation, or be composed of stars from more than one. Like constellations, asterisms are in most cases composed of stars which, while they are visible in the same general direction,...
in the constellation Ursa Major
Ursa Major
Ursa Major , also known as the Great Bear, is a constellation visible throughout the year in most of the northern hemisphere. It can best be seen in April...
which symbolizes a bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
, an animal indigenous to Alaska. As depicted on the flag, its stars can be used as a guide by the novice to locate Polaris
Polaris
Polaris |Alpha]] Ursae Minoris, commonly North Star or Pole Star, also Lodestar) is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. It is very close to the north celestial pole, making it the current northern pole star....
and determine true north, which varies considerably from a magnetic north.
The design was created by Benny Benson
Benny Benson
John Ben "Benny" Benson, Jr. was the Aleut boy who designed the flag of Alaska. Benny was 13 when he won in a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state in 1959.-Biography:...
of Seward
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016....
and selected from among roughly 700 entries in a 1927 contest.
Design and origin
More than 30 years before Alaska was to become a state, the Alaska Department of the American LegionAmerican Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
sponsored a territorial contest for Alaskan children in grades seven through twelve. Winning the contest in 1927, the design of Benny Benson
Benny Benson
John Ben "Benny" Benson, Jr. was the Aleut boy who designed the flag of Alaska. Benny was 13 when he won in a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state in 1959.-Biography:...
, a 13-year-old Alaska Native residing at the Jesse Lee Home for Children
Jesse Lee Home for Children
The Jesse Lee Home for Children is a former orphanage in Seward, Alaska, United States. The orphanage was operated by the United Methodist Church from its opening in 1926 until the building suffered damage from a 1964 earthquake and operations were relocated to a new building in...
in Seward
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016....
, was chosen to represent the future of the Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
. Up to that time, Alaskans had flown only the U.S. flag since the territory was purchased from Russia
Alaska purchase
The Alaska Purchase was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the United States from Russia in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the Senate. The purchase, made at the initiative of United States Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained of new United States territory...
in 1867. Benson's design was chosen over roughly 700 other submissions from schoolchildren territory-wide in grades 7–12. Most other entries featured variations on the territorial seal, the midnight sun
Midnight sun
The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon occurring in summer months at latitudes north and nearby to the south of the Arctic Circle, and south and nearby to the north of the Antarctic Circle where the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Given fair weather, the sun is visible for a continuous...
, the northern lights
Aurora (astronomy)
An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere...
, polar bears, and/or gold pans
Gold panning
Gold panning, or simply panning, is a form of placer mining that extracts gold from a placer deposit using a pan. The process is one of the simplest ways to extract gold, and is popular with geology enthusiasts because of its cheap cost and the relatively simple and easy process involved. It is the...
. To celebrate his achievement, Benson was awarded US$1,000 and an engraved watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
.
Benny looked to the sky for the symbols he included in his design. Choosing the familiar constellation he looked for every night before going to sleep at the orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
, he submitted this description with it:
Russian-American CompanyRussian-American CompanyThe Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
flag
The Russian-American CompanyRussian-American Company
The Russian-American Company was a state-sponsored chartered company formed largely on the basis of the so-called Shelekhov-Golikov Company of Grigory Shelekhov and Ivan Larionovich Golikov The Russian-American Company (officially: Under His Imperial Majesty's Highest Protection (patronage)...
(RAC) flag was authorized under Czar Alexander I
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
in 1806. It was the first special flag granted by the Russian government to any private company. The flag was granted on September 19, 1806, by the Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
offices. The RAC flag was authorized to be raised over Russian fortifications and on RAC ships in place of naval flags.
The RAC flag has three stripes: the lower red, the middle blue, and the upper and wider stripe white. Painted on the flag is the Russian imperial crest, the double-headed eagle. A ribbon hanging from the talons of the eagle has the inscription, "Russian American Company" . On the breast of the double headed eagle is a square with a red shield and Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
on a white steed
Steed
Steed is a working animal used as a mount . Steed may also refer to:-Surname:*Jake Steed , American actor*Joel Steed , American football player*Maggie Steed , British actress...
looking to the left.
The flag flew over Alaska until October 18, 1867, when all Russian-American Company holdings in Alaska were sold to the United States.
State flag
The Alaska Legislature adopted Benson's design as the official flag for the Territory of Alaska on May 2, 1927. The first flag made based on Benny's design was made of blue silkSilk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and appliqué
Applique
In its broadest sense, an appliqué is a smaller ornament or device applied to another surface. In the context of ceramics, for example, an appliqué is a separate piece of clay added to the primary work, generally for the purpose of decoration...
d gold stars, and was inaugurally flown July 9, 1927. It was retained as the state flag upon statehood
Alaska Statehood Act
The Alaska Statehood Act was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 7, 1958, allowing Alaska to become the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959.-History: the road to Statehood:...
in 1959.
The flag's symbolism is described in the state song, "Alaska's Flag
Alaska's Flag
"Alaska's Flag" is the state song of Alaska. Unique among state songs, its lyrics explain the symbolism of the Alaskan flag. The lyrics are:Eight stars of gold on a field of blue — Alaska's flag...
".
Flags flown before 1927
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Grigory Shelikhov Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov Grigory Ivanovich Shelekhov (Григорий Иванович Шелехов in Russian; (1747–July 20, 1795 (July 31, 1795 N.S.)) was a Russian seafarer and merchant born in Rylsk.... -Golikov) |
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(used as civil ensign Civil ensign The civil ensign is the national flag flown by civil ships to denote nationality... ) |
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See also
- AlaskaAlaskaAlaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
- Symbols of the state of Alaska
- Seal of the State of Alaska
- Starry Plough (flag)
- Seal of the State of Alaska
- Symbols of the state of Alaska
External links
- Catalog of the "Eight Stars" exhibit at the Alaska State Museum, in PDF format; requires Adobe ReaderAdobe AcrobatAdobe Acrobat is a family of application software developed by Adobe Systems to view, create, manipulate, print and manage files in Portable Document Format . All members of the family, except Adobe Reader , are commercial software, while the latter is available as freeware and can be downloaded...