STATE SYMBOLS
State Nicknames: "Land of the Midnight Sun" and "The Last Frontier".
State Motto: "North to the Future" adopted in 1967.
State Flag: Designed by 7th grade Aleut student, Bobby 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 Bobby's design as the official Territory of Alaska flag.
State 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."
State Bird: Alaska's state bird is the Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus). Chosen in 1955 by Alaskan school children.
State Mammal: Alaska's state mammal is the Moose (Alces alces).
State Marine Mammal: Alaska's state marine mammal is the Bowhead Whale and was adopted in 1983.
State Fish: Alaska's state fish is the King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and was adopted in 1962.
State Flower: Alaska's state flower is the Forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) and was adopted in 1949.
State Fossil: Alaska's state fossil is the Woolley Mammoth and was adopted in 1986.
State Gem: Alaska's state gem is Jade and was adopted in 1968.
State Mineral: Alaska's state mineral is gold and was adopted in 1968.
State Insect: Alaska's state insect is (no not the Mosquito) the Four-spot skimmer dragonfly and was adopted in 1995.
State Sport: Alaska's state sport is Dog mushing and was adopted in 1972.
State Tree: Alaska's state tree is the Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) and was adopted in 1962.
State 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.
ALASKA'S FLAG
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.
2nd Verse
A Native lad choose the dipper's stars,
For Alaska's flag that there be no bars;
Among our cultures be it known,
Through years the Natives' past has grown;
To share lifes treasures, hand in hand,
To keep Alaska our great land;
We love the northern midnight sky,
The mountains lakes and streams nearby;
The great north star with its steady light,
Will guide all cultures clear and bright;
With nature's flag to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier.
info from: http://www.mosquitonet.com/~plee/
Copywrited ~Ann~ 2001 if your would like to use any of my pictures please ask me.
well that is all for now I will finish later!! luv ya all bubye! ~Ann~
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