Alaska State Motto
"North To The Future"

FLAG: Big Dipper & the North Star on a field of blue
MOTTO: "North to the Future"
FISH: King Salmon
FLOWER: Forget-me-not
TREE: Sitka Spruce
MINERAL: Gold
GEM: Jade
BIRD: Willow Ptarmigan
NATIVES: Eskimo, Aleut, Athabascan Indians, Haida Indians, Tlingit Indians, Tsimshian Indians

Admission to Statehood: January 3, 1959 - Alaska was a district from Oct. 18, 1867, until it became an organized territory Aug. 24, 1912.
Area: 656,425 sq. mi, 1st  Land 570,374 sq. mi., 1st - Water 86,051 sq.mi., 1st
Coastline 6640 mi., 1st
Agriculture: Seafood, nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, livestock.
Industry: Petroleum and natural gas, gold and other mining, food processing, lumber and wood products, tourism.
Flag: Alaska adopted the flag for official state use in 1959. The blue field represents the sky, the sea, and mountain lakes, as well as Alaska's wildflowers. Emblazoned on the flag are eight gold stars: seven in the constellation Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. The eighth being the North Star, representing the northern most state. 
Geographic Center: 60 miles northwest of Mount McKinley
Governor: Tony Knowles (D)
Highest Point: Mt. McKinley; 20,320 feet, 1st
Nickname: The Last Frontier
Origin of state's name: Based on an Aleut word "alaxsxaq" literally meaning "object toward which the action of the sea is directed" or more simply "the mainland".
Population: 626,932; 48th, 12/00
Song: The Alaska Flag Song

NOTABLE ALASKANS:

Richie Ashburn - MLB Hall of Famer (Stationed During War)
Aleksandr Baranov - Trader, public official
Margaret Elizabeth Bell - Author
Benny Benson - Designed state flag at age 13 (Chignik)
H.A. (Red) Boucher - Fmr. lieutenant governor, Goldpanners' founder (Fairbanks, Anchorage)
Charles E. Bunnell - Educator
Curt Schilling - Major League Baseball Pitcher (Anchorage)
William A. Egan - First state governor
Carl Ben Eielson - Pioneer pilot
Henry E. Gruennig - Political leader
B. Frank Heintzleman - Territorial governor
Walter J. Hickel - Former governor
Sheldon Jackson - Educator and missionary
Jewel Kilcher - Musician (Homer)
Joe Juneau - Prospector
Austin Lathrop - Industrialist (Fairbanks)
Sydney Lawrence - Painter
Ray Mala - Actor
Ed Merdes - Assistant attorney general, territory of Alaska, 1953-57
Virgil F. Partch - Cartoonist
Joe Redington, Sr. - Sled-dog musher and promoter
Curt Schilling - World Series MVP (Born in Anchorage)
William G. Stroecker - Bank/Panner President, civic leader (Fairbanks)
Sean Timmons - Goldpanners' most successful local; 2002-03 MVP (Fairbanks)

Skagway Ballplayer, 1908

Robert W. Service, 1909 (BALLADS OF CHEECHAKO)

Honor the High North ever and ever,
Whether she crown you, or whether she slay;
Suffer her fury, cherish and love her-
He who would rule her must learn to obey.

Community Profiles

1959 Statehood Act

SECONDARY SECTIONS

OUTDOOR SPORTS
AVIATION | BASEBALL | MUSHING

PHOTOGRAPHY AND MAPS
PICTURES AND MAPS

NATURAL RESOURCES
GOLD RUSH AND OIL INDUSTRY | GEOPHYSICAL SCIENCE