State Flag	The State of Alaska flag consists of eight gold stars which represent the Big Dipper and and the North Star on a field of blue. The design of the flag was created by a seventh grade Aleut student, Benny Benson, in a territorial flag contest in 1927. In his own words, "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaska flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly of the Union. The Great Bear---symbolizing strength."
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.
State Seal	The state seal was originally designed in 1910 while Alaska was a territory and not a state. The rays above the mountains represent the Northern Lights. The smelter symbolizes mining. The train stands for Alaska’s railroads, and ships denote transportation by sea. The trees symbolize Alaska’s wealth of forests, and the farmer, his horse, and the three shocks of wheat represent Alaskan agriculture. The fish and the seals signify the importance of fishing and wildlife to Alaska’s economy.
State Flower	The forget-me-not, which grows well throughout Alaska, is the state flower.
State Sport	Dog mushing is the state sport. It was once a primary form of transportation in many areas of Alaska.
State Fish	The giant king salmon, which weighs up to 100 pounds, is the state fish.
State Tree	The tall, stately Sitka spruce is the state tree. It is found in southeastern and central Alaska.
State Bird	The pheasant-like willow ptarmigan is the state bird. This bird changes color from light brown
State Mineral	Gold is the state mineral. Gold has played a major role in Alaska’s history.
State Land Mammal	The moose was made the official Alaska land mammal when Governor Tony Knowles signed SB 265 into law on May 1, 1998. Moose can be found from the Unuk River in Southeast to the Arctic Slope, but are most abudant in second-growth birch forests, on timberline plateaus and along major rivers of Southcentral and Interior. They are not found on islands in Prince William Sound or the Bering Sea, on most major islands in Southeast, on Kodiak, or the Aleutians groups.
All Photos and Text from "Official Student Information Guide to Alaska." by: AK Division of Tourism INDEX - Geography - Wildlife - People - Resources - Events - State Facts Fast Facts - History - Government - Transportation - Climate - Communication