Most People Don't Know The Story Behind Alaska's Flag And The 13-Year Old Boy Who Created It

Benny Benson was just a boy when he designed the Alaska State Flag. In early 1926, Territorial Governor George Parks was on a trip to Washington, D.C. when he saw the flags of the 48 states flying outside the old Post Office Building and he was convinced that Alaska needed a flag that would wave with the others.

Mike.Reyes | Flickr

ASL-P01-3567 | Alaska State Library Place File. Photographs. ASL

John Ben "Benny" Benson, Jr. was 3 years old when his mother passed away when a terrible sickness ravaged their village of Chignik. Her name was Tatiana Schebolein and she was of Aleut-Russian descent. His father was John Ben Benson, Swedish-American, and he couldn't care for all three of the young children alone. Their sister was sent to Seattle and Benny and his brother Carl were sent to live in the Jesse Lee Home in Unalaska. They remained there with hundreds of displaced Aleut orphans until the home, and the children, relocated to Seward in 1925.

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ASL-MS14-1 | Alaska State Library - Historical Collections

A photo of Benny Benson is attached (probably after the design was submitted) to the upper right corner. The description reads: 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, symbolising strenth [strength].

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ASL-Benson-Benny-1 ASL-P01-1921 | Alaska State Library - Historical Collections

Benny won the contest with his entry from a pool of over 100 entries and was given $1000.00 to travel to Washington and present the flag to the President of the U.S. He was a unanimous winner by the panel of judges and by May of 1927, the flag design was unanimously adopted by the two houses of the territorial legislature. The trip to Washington never happened and the funds were instead set aside for his future education.

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UAF-1985-120-135 | Alaska and Polar Regions Collections

Benny Benson began life in the tiny village of Chignik, moved to Unalaska, to Seward, to Seattle and then to Kodiak. Benny used his educational funds to attend Hemphill Diesel Engineering School in Seattle and returned to Alaska to become an airplane mechanic for Kodiak Airways. He passed away in 1972 as an honored Alaskan and was survived by many children, stepchildren and grandchildren.

UAA-hmc-0384-s3-f12-1 | University of Alaska Anchorage

The flag was dedicated on July 8, 1927, at the Jesse Lee Home, and it was there Benson received his first place watch.

Michael A. Haase | Wikipedia

Andrew Malone | Flickr

The Alaska State Flag waves proudly every day, and especially on October 18, Alaska Day, the commemoration of the territory changing hands from Russia to the U.S. on October 18, 1867. There are also some celebrations around the state annually on July 9, the day the Alaska state flag was first flown.

Hear a beautiful version of the Alaska Flag Song here, the state song about the bold and meaningful flag invented by Benny Benson, a important historical figure in Alaska.

Here are 10 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned Orphanage Hiding In Alaska, the Jesse Lee Home where Benny lived when he created the flag.

Do you know anything else about Benny Benson’s story? Tell us about it in the comments below.