July 9: Benny Benson’s Flag of Alaska Flies for the First Time (1927)
Prayer Idea
Pray for Alaska Natives.
History Note
People settled in what became Alaska many centuries ago. They have cultural and linguistic connections to the indigenous people who live in Siberia, Canada, and Greenland. Today many Alaska Natives live in one of over 200 recognized communities spread across the state.
Benny Benson was born in the village of Chignik, Alaska, in 1912. His father was Swedish and his mother had both Unangax̂ and Russian heritage. The Unangax̂ (also known as Aleuts) are an indigenous people who have traditionally lived on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula.
In 1927 the American Legion sponsored a competition. Children in grades 7 through 12 were invited to submit designs for a new flag for the territory of Alaska. Benny Benson, then age 14, submitted a design, along with 141 other students. The judges unanimously chose Benny’s design as the winner.
The territorial legislature of Alaska officially adopted Benny’s flag design. The flag flew for the first time on July 9, 1927. Benny received a watch and a $1,000 scholarship.
This is Benny Benson’s flag design submission. The flag shows the portion of the constellation Ursa Major known as the Big Dipper and the North Star on a blue field. Benny described his design this way: "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 in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear, symbolizing strength." A photo of Benny is attached. Image courtesy the Alaska State Library - Historical Collections.
Learn More
This video tells the story of Benny Benson’s flag.
Find other resources at Homeschool History.
