State Symbols

Nicknames

"Land of the Midnight Sun" and "The Last Frontier".

Motto

"North to the Future" adopted in 1967.

Flag

Designed by 7th grade Aleut student, Benny Benson, in 1926. Bobby Benson entered his design in a territorial flag contest. In his word's, "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly of the Union. The Great Bear symbolizing strength." On May 2, 1927, the Alaska State Legislature adopted Benny's design as the official Territory of Alaska flag.

Capital

Alaska's state capital is Juneau located in the Southeast. Juneau became the state capital in 1906. When Alaska was initially purchased from Russia, Sitka was the capital and the U.S. flag was raised there on October 18th; hence, Alaska Day is now celebrated this day each year. Sitka is also known as the "Paris of the North."

Bird

Alaska's state bird is the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). Chosen in 1955 by Alaskan school children.

Mammal

Alaska's state mammal is the Moose (Alces alces).

Marine Mammal

Alaska's state marine mammal is the Bowhead Whale and was adopted in 1983.

Fish

Alaska's state fish is the King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and was adopted in 1962.

Flower

Alaska's state flower is the Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) and was adopted in 1949.

Fossil

Alaska's state fossil is the Woolley Mammoth and was adopted in 1986.

Gem

Alaska's state gem is Jade and was adopted in 1968.

Mineral

Alaska's state mineral is gold and was adopted in 1968.

Insect

Alaska's state insect is (no not the Mosquito) the Four-spot skimmer dragonfly and was adopted in 1995.

Sport

Alaska's state sport is Dog mushing and was adopted in 1972.

Tree

Alaska's state tree is the Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) and was adopted in 1962.

Song

The state song became Alaska's official song when it was still a territory in 1955. This was originally written as a poem by Marie Drake in 1935 and appeared on the cover of a territorial Department of Education publication, School Bulletin.