Banners Flowing in Alaska

The United States and Russia settled on a price of million for the sale of Alaska on March 30, 1867. 2 million Secretary of State William Seward and Russian Minister to the United States Edouard de Stoeckl negotiated and signed the Treaty with Russia.

It wasn't until 1927 that Alaska officially adopted its current flag.

When the United States admitted its 49th state, Alaska, in 1959, it became the country's largest state. North America's far northwest corner. For a long time, Alaska was considered a colony.

Description of the Development of the Alaskan Flag

American Flag Company in Russia

The Russian American Company (RAC), a state-sponsored business organization with initial headquarters in Irkutsk and later St. St. Petersburg, Russia, between the years of 1799 and 1867 The civil ensign, the national flag of Russia, was flown on all Company ships and land bases. On September 28 (October 10, new style), 1806, the Russian American Corporation presented the design of a new flag to Aleksandr I, Emperor of Russia, who noted "So be it" and appended his cypher. allowing the first Russian flag to be flown by an Imperially sanctioned business Following Imperial confirmation, the ukase was discussed in the Senate and sent to the RAC headquarters, as well as the Admiralty and Commerce colleges, on October 19, 1806 for implementation.

In 1806, the Russian commercial flag was updated to feature the Imperial eagle in the upper left corner. When designing the flag, it was decided to make the white stripe wider, covering about half of the flag's width, so that the State emblem would be easily visible. Traditionally, a Russian commercial flag's width was divided into thirds. The imperial eagle's scroll, reading in abbreviated form, "Russian American Company's," dipped into the blue stripe for better readability. The scroll beneath the imperial eagle adds symbolic value to the Company's official name, "Under His Imperial Majesty's Protection Russian-American Company." The flag flew over Alaska until the Russian and American Company handed over control of the territory to the United States on October 18, 1867.

The Flag of the State of Alaska

The Alaska Legislature adopted Benson's design for the state flag on May 2, 1927. Benny's original design called for a blue silk banner to be adorned with gold embroidery representing stars. After the state was officially established in 1959, it kept its original flag.

The meaning of Alaska's flag is sung about in the state anthem, "Alaska's Flag."

Origin and Purpose

Before Alaska became a state, the Alaska Department of the American Legion held a territorial competition for Alaskan students in seventh through twelfth grade (ages 12–13 to 17–18) to design a flag for the territory. In 1927, an orphan named Benny Benson, age 14, had his design chosen by a contest committee as the basis for what would become the flag of the Territory of Alaska. Benson, an Alaska native, lived in the Jesse Lee Home for Children in Seward. For the 150 years following the United States' 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia, the state's residents had proudly displayed only the Stars and Stripes. Benson's plan was chosen out of nearly 700 others submitted by students from across the region. Most of the rest of the entries featured polar bears, the midnight sun, the northern lights, the territorial seal, or gold pans. Benson was awarded $1000 in cash and a personalized watch for his efforts.

Benny looked to the stars for inspiration when he was designing. Before going to sleep at the orphanage, he would go outside and look for a particular constellation, so he chose that one and wrote down its description.

The blue background and white forget-me-nots stand for the clear, starry nights in Alaska. Alaska, the northernmost state in the United States, will continue to be symbolized by the North Star as it develops into its future. The dipper represents the Great Bear, a symbol of power.

Alaska's Flag: Some Interesting Facts

For those who aren't familiar with the Alaskan flag, here are five interesting facts:

For starters, it displays the Big Dipper.

To the untrained eye, the Alaskan flag may just look like a bunch of stars thrown together. There are eight golden stars on a blue background. This, however, is not an entirely arbitrary pattern. In reality, that is the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper is a constellation in the constellation Ursa Major that looks like a cup with a handle. The cancellation is depicted on the Alaskan flag.

In addition, it serves as a tool for navigation.

If you're lost in Alaska, just look at the flag; the Big Dipper is prominently displayed. The Big Dipper is the constellation associated with the north star. The location of the North Pole can be identified by looking at the North Star, also known as Polaris. The state of Alaska even uses it for its flag. The Alaskan flag features the North Star in its upper-right corner. It's the one star in the Big Dipper that's isolated from the rest of the group.

A third distinguishing feature is that it was created via a contest.

The state flag of Alaska was designed through an open contest. In 1927, the Alaskan branch of the American Legion held a contest to select a new flag design. Approximately seven hundred entries were submitted to the contest, which was held at secondary schools all over the state. The winner was Benny Benson, a 13-year-old student. Benson painted a picture of the Big Dipper and the North Star against a blue sky.

Forth, it has been in effect since 1927.

The official adoption of the Alaskan flag occurred in the same year that Benson was named the winner of the contest. Naturally, Alaska had not yet become a state. Alaska was not officially made a state until 1959. Despite this, Benson's flag was formally adopted in 1927 and was officially recognized by the Alaska Legislature in 1959.

Finally, it is hailed as a top-tier design.

The Alaskan flag, despite its simplicity, is one of the best-designed flags in the world. The Alaskan flag has been ranked as having the fifth-best design among all American and Canadian flags by the North American Vexillological Association.

Questions & Answers About the Last Frontier

Question: 1. Why is the Big Dipper constellation featured on the Alaskan flag?

Each star on the Alaskan flag is shaped like the Big Dipper, a bear emblem that is both indigenous to Alaska and a symbol of the state's strength.

2. For what are Alaska most well-known?

One of the most popular (and widely recognized) things to do in Alaska is to go on a cruise through the state's spectacular scenery. Alaska is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, with over a million visitors per year.

Glaciers: The ice sculpture you see today may be completely different tomorrow as glaciers can advance by several feet in a single day. When you return to the same Alaskan glacier a few months after your first visit, you may notice differences due to the glacier's retreat.

Alaska is home to a wide variety of animals and plants, including salmon, moose, caribou, bears, whales, bison, puffins, and jellyfish, and is surrounded by a vast wilderness. The glaciers, fjords, mountains, and countless lakes, rivers, and canals in Alaska are what make the state so visually striking.

The state of Alaska is home to more than half of the United States' national park acres. The state is home to eight national parks, making it the runner-up in terms of national park density among US states. You will feel like you can do anything.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, more commonly known as The Iditarod, is an annual, long-distance sled dog race held in early March. In 1973, the Iditarod was created as a race to put the best sled dog mushers and teams to the test; today, the race has evolved into a fiercely competitive event. From Anchorage to Nome, it spans the entire state of Alaska.

How many people call Alaska home?

The most up-to-date data from the United S A total of 710 231 people were counted in the 2010 census in Alaska. 13 people were added to the population according to that statistic. 3 percent increase since 2000 Since the release of the results from the 2010 census, the United States Census Bureau has issued updated population estimates for 2011 (722,718) and 2012 (731,449)

Although it is not official, recent estimates put Alaska's population at 736,990 in the year 2020.

Flags that Represent the State of Alaska

We have Alaska flags that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, in addition to Alaska Flag Sets for the ultimate Alaskan souvenir.

Our Alaskan indoor flags are the most versatile option for indoor use. These flags are made of vibrant nylon and are expertly woven. The finishing touch on an indoor flag is the lined pole sleeve along the left side and the velvety, traditional gold fringe along the other two sides. Carrot Top offers two sizes of indoor Alaska flags to choose from. Our 3' x 5' Alaska flag fits perfectly on either our Majestic Telescopic flagpole or a standard 8' indoor/parade flagpole. The Alaskan flag, which measures 4'x6', looks its best when displayed on one of our Majestic Telescopic flagpoles, but it also looks great on a 9' indoor/parade flagpole.

Patriarch® Polyester and Beacon® Nylon are used in the manufacture of outdoor flags for Alaska. The Beacon® Nylon Alaska flag is one of the most versatile flags available. Alaska's official outdoor flag, the Beacon® Nylon, is made of finely woven nylon that is both strong and lightweight so that it flies easily in the wind. The Beacon® Nylon outdoor Alaska flag is best used in mild climates with low wind speeds. Outdoor Beacon® Nylon flags are available in a variety of sizes, including 12" x 18", 2' x 3', 3' x 5', 4' x 6', 5' x 8', 6' x 10', and 8' x 12'. Expert weavers were able to achieve the look and feel of cotton in the Patriarch® Polyester flag. This Patriarch® Polyester Outdoor Alaska flag is the best all-around option. Due to its construction of woven polyester with a cotton-like texture, this flag can withstand both severe weather and high winds. Sizes for these flags include 3x5, 4x6, and 5x8 feet. Both flags have a canvas header and two brass grommets on the left side, and they dry quickly without fraying.

Our Alaska flag sets feature a variety of flag sizes and flagpole styles to help you achieve the perfect look and feel for your space. Alaska flag sets come in two sizes, and a wider selection of our Majestic and Traditional flag poles can be found at Carrot Top. This flag set gives you a wide variety of options for indoor and outdoor displays, as well as parades.

All of the Alaska flags we sell are 100% American-made.

It is with great pleasure that we present American and Alaskan state flags proudly Made in the USA. Buying domestically produced goods is a great way to help the United States remain independent and to promote better working conditions for American workers.

Today is the day to get in touch with us!

Carrot-Top takes great pride in its forty years in the industry. If you have any questions or would like to place an order for an Alaska flag, an American flag, a flagpole, a personalized item, or a flag for the military, please call us at (800) 287-3524. Also, check out our detailed flag-buying guide.