Flag of Alaska
Benny Benson designed Alaska's flag at 13. Eight gold stars on navy blue, the Big Dipper pointing to Polaris, adopted in 1927 and kept at statehood.
Flag of Alaska
Official State Flag of Alaska
State Flag of Alaska
History of the Alaska State Flag
Alaska had no territorial flag for 60 years after the 1867 purchase from Russia. In 1926, Territorial Governor George Parks visited Washington D.C. and noticed all 48 state flags on display but none for Alaska. Parks arranged for the Alaska Department of the American Legion to hold a territory-wide schoolchildren's contest. Most entries used polar bears, the midnight sun, or the territorial seal.
Benny Benson, living at the Jesse Lee Home for Children in Seward, submitted the constellation design. Of 142 entries that reached the Final Awards Committee, his was the unanimous choice. On May 2, 1927, the territorial legislature adopted his design. Benson received a $1,000 education prize and a gold watch engraved with the design.
Benson's flag was built for a territory, not a state. In 1959, Alaska became the 49th state. Lawmakers made no changes, carrying Benson's original design unchanged into the union.
Alaska's flag connects eight stars to two constellations visible from Alaskan latitudes. Benny Benson designed it as a territorial student entry, and the state kept it unchanged at statehood. Navy blue represents both the Alaskan sky and the forget-me-not, the only element with two documented meanings.
Alaska Flag Meaning and Symbolism
Big Dipper
North Star (Polaris)
Navy Blue Field
Official Colors and Dimensions
Alaska's flag uses navy blue and gold. State statute defines gold as 'the color of natural yellow gold' and specifies that blue match the shade used in the U.S. national flag.
Interesting Facts
Historical Versions of the Flag
← Drag or tap to compare →
From the Alaska Purchase through 1927, the U.S. national flag flew over territorial government buildings. No contest or legislation had created a distinct Alaskan symbol.
The design Benny Benson submitted in the 1927 contest. Adopted as a territorial flag and reclassified as a state flag when Alaska joined the union in 1959.
All versions
Quick Answers
What does the Alaska state flag look like?
What do the stars on Alaska's flag mean?
Who designed Alaska's state flag?
What do the colors on Alaska's flag mean?
Has Alaska's flag ever changed?
Sources
Alaska State Symbols
Show more (2)
Related States
Compare all 50 states by population, land area, statehood date, and more.
Themed lists - states sharing the same bird, oldest symbols, flags with bears, and more.
Side-by-side comparison of population, area, income, taxes, climate, and more.
Top 20 most common surnames per state - with origins, meanings, and heritage context. Is yours on the list?
You Might Also Like
Serial Killers by State
Alaska has the highest serial killer rate at 0.867 per 100,000 residents. Hawaii is lowest, and California has the highest raw count at 128.
Flag of Arkansas
Arkansas had no state flag until 1913. Its white diamond marks the only diamond-producing state. A fourth star marks Confederate membership.
Flag of Arizona
Arizona's flag was sketched on an envelope in 1910 for a rifle team. Adopted in 1917, it became law without the governor's signature.
Flag of Alaska
Benny Benson designed Alaska's flag at 13. Eight gold stars on navy blue, the Big Dipper pointing to Polaris, adopted in 1927 and kept at statehood.
Alabama State Flag
Alabama's crimson cross on white was adopted in 1895, likely modeled after the Confederate Battle Flag. The state's first flag was destroyed by a storm one month after raising.
Flag of California
Brown grizzly on white, adopted in 1911, traces to settler William Todd's handmade flag raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846.
Rainwater Harvesting Laws by State
Rainwater harvesting is legal in all 50 states. Colorado caps residential storage at 110 gallons, while Utah allows up to 2,500 gallons.
Weird Laws in Arkansas
Weird laws in Arkansas include a repealed statewide tattoo ban, a 145-year-old pronunciation law, and a Sunday car sales rule that is still enforced today.