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Student Guide :: State Symbols State Symbols
 The Alaska State Flag was was designed by Benny Benson, a seventh-grade Aleut student in 1926. The flag was adopted by the Territorial Legislature in May, 1927 as Alaska's official flag. The Flag is made up of the North Star (in the upper right corner) and the Big Dipper on a field of Blue. The "Alaska's Flag" song was written by Marie Drake in 1935 and was put to music by Mrs. Elinor Dusenbury. In 1955, The Territorial Legislature adopted "Alaska's Flag" as the official song.Alaska's Flag © 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. Word and Music of the Alaska Flag Song: Copyright 1985, The University of Alaska Foundation, All Rights Reserved  The Seal of the State of Alaska was adopted as the official seal in 1959. Prior to becoming the Official seal of the State of Alaska, it was the Territorial seal from 1912 - 1958. The seal was first designed for the District of Alaska in 1884. In 1910, Governor Clark redesigned the seal to represent all aspects of Alaska's natural resources and economy.
The official motto of the State of Alaska, North to the Future, was adopted by the legislature during Alaska's Purchase Centennial in 1967. Created by veteran newsman Richard Peter, the motto is meant to represent Alaska as a country of promise. According to Peter, the motto "...is a reminder that beyond the horizon of urban clutter there is a Great Land beneath our flag that can provide a new tomorrow for this century's 'huddled masses yearning to be free." Source: Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, 11th ed., Juneau, Department of Education, Division of State Libraries, Archives & Museums.  The Alaska State Flower is the forget-me-not, adopted by the Territorial Legislature in 1917. This abundant wild flower grows all over Alaska. It has blue petals with a yellow center. The willow ptarmigan was adopted as the State Bird in 1955 by the Territorial Legislature. This small arctic grouse is brown in the summer and turns white during winter. The willow ptarmigan lives in the willow trees, on open tundra and around muskeg. They are very common throughout Alaska.  In 1998, the moose was adopted as the Alaska State Land Mammal. Choosing the State Land Mammal was a project of the students of Kalifornsky Beach Elementary School.
The Alaska State Marine Mammal is the Bowhead Whale, adopted in 1983 by the Alaska State Legislature. The Bowhead whale was nearly destroyed by commercial fishing in the late 1880's and they now enjoy a protected status. In 1994 the Bowhead population was around 8,000 and is growing by about 199 whales per year.  The King Salmon was adopted as the State fish in 1962. The Kenai River King has a minimum weight of 75 lbs., whereas the minimum weight of most King Salmon across Alaska is 50 lbs. In 1985 a record 97 lb., 4 oz. King Salmon was caught in the Kenai River by Lester Anderson.
Alaska school children led the charge to make the four-spot skimmer dragonfly the official State of Alaska insect. In 1995, Legislation was introduced on behalf of elementary students in District R. The four-spot skimmer dragonfly was adopted as the official State of Alaska insect by the 19th Legislature in 1995. Jade was adopted by the Alaska Legislature in 1968 as the State Gem. Most deposits of Jade are found near the Kobuk River and Jade Mountain, also near the Dall and Shungnak rivers. GOLD! The Alaska State Mineral has changed the face of Alaska in more ways then one. Check out the history page for days and places of Gold rushes across Alaska. In the summer of 1998, the state's largest gold nugget was discovered near the Ruby district. The nuggets weighed an impressive 294 troy ounces (or equivalent to 24.5 pounds). The Discovery claim on Anvil creek near Nome is where many of Alaska's large nuggets were mined. Gold was adopted as the state mineral in1968. The Sitka Spruce was adopted as the State Tree in 1962. Located throughout Southeast, the Kenai Peninsula, the Gulf Coast and the west coast of Cook Inlet, the Sitka Spruce (Picea Sitchensis) grows up to 160 feet in height and 5 feet in diameter. The Sitka Spruce is a cone bearing tree and has long dark green needles. The State sport of dog mushing was adopted in 1972. The most notable of Dog mushing events is the annual run of the Iditarod Dog Sled Race from Anchorage to Nome. To find out more information on this and other dog sled races, check out the Iditarod Trail. Top of Page Juneau Headquarters: 217 Second Street, Suite 201, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone: 907.586.2323, Fax: 907.463.5515, Email: info@alaskachamber.com Anchorage Office: 601 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 700, Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: 907.278.2722, Fax: 907.278.6643 Copyright © 2003 - Present. The Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, all rights reserved. Designed by WebWeavers Technology Group LLC™ |
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