Eight golden stars on deep blue, seven for the Big Dipper, the eighth a larger North Star. The flag was designed by a schoolboy, Benny Benson, and perfectly captures Alaska’s place: guided by the northern lights and constellations, vast and remote.
Blue field with golden Big Dipper and North Star.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Benny Benson (age 13)
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- No
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- Symbolic constellation flag
- Complexity
- 2/10
- Readability
- 10/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
Big Dipper
Symbol of strength and part of the Ursa Major constellation.
North Star
Represents Alaska’s northern location and future as a state.
Blue Field
Represents the sky and Forget-me-not, the state flower.
Design Breakdown
The Alaska flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: Blue field with golden Big Dipper and North Star.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Designed by a 13-year-old student
- Only state flag featuring a star constellation
- One of the simplest and highest-rated flags in vexillology
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Extreme simplicity
- Strong symbolism
- Excellent visibility at distance
- Designed by a child
Common criticism
- Lacks explicit historical references
- Abstract symbolism may be unclear without explanation
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: No
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Alaska state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Recognize the Big Dipper and North Star.
- Explain contest origins and designer’s story.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Seal Deep Dive
Big Dipper
Seven gold stars forming the Big Dipper constellation.
Attributes: Seven eight-pointed gold stars
Meaning: Strength, unity, and Alaska’s connection to the northern sky
North Star
A larger gold star representing Polaris, the North Star.
Attributes: One larger eight-pointed gold star
Meaning: Alaska as the northernmost state and a symbol of direction and hope
Color Field
Deep blue background symbolizing the Alaskan sky.
Meaning: The northern night sky, the sea, and the forget-me-not, Alaska’s state flower
Historical Timeline
Territorial flag adopted after design contest.
Alaska admitted as 49th state; flag retained.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Symbolic constellation flag
Complexity: 2/10
Readability: 10/10
Fascinating Facts
Designed by 13-year-old Benny Benson.
Flag is one of the simplest yet most symbolic U.S. state flags.
The eight gold stars represent the Big Dipper and the North Star.
The North Star symbolizes Alaska’s future as the northernmost state.
Blue represents the Alaskan sky and the forget-me-not, the state flower.
The design was selected through a statewide schoolchildren’s contest in 1927.
Benny Benson never received royalties for the design but was awarded a watch and $1,000 scholarship.
The flag remained unchanged when Alaska became a U.S. state in 1959.
State Information
- Population
- 733,391
- Area
- 663,268
- Founded
- 03 Jan 1959
- Region
- West
