A Flag for a Territory
The Alaska Flag Story is one of the most unique ever. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia on October 18, 1867. From that date until 1927 the Territory of Alaska had NO official flag. Alaska is huge (5 times the size of Texas) and even today has a small population. Consequently, for years a flag for this far-flung territory didn’t seem a priority.
The lack of a flag all changed in 1927 when the American Legion launched a contest to design an official flag for Alaska. Ultimately, the Legion arrived at a unique plan for designing a flag. Uniquely, the contest was open to school children between grades 7 and 12 ONLY. Any child anywhere in the territory could submit an entry, and that included mission schools. Take a look!
Even though the contest was open to any school children interested, the final number of entries throughout the entire territory was a grand total of 142; not many, to say the least. Regardless, the children were creative and thought-provoking with their entries. Each entry required a written an explanation of the flag entry. And, the children all showed initiative and serious thought in their entries.
A Surprising Winner!
According to the contest rules, only Caucasian children could enter the Alaska Flag Contest. Regardless of this rule, it was the son of an Aleut Alaskan native and a Swedish fisherman who won the contest! His name was Benny Benson. He was over 1,000 miles from his home village in Unalaska in the Aleutian Islands attending school in Seward.
When Benny’s mother died of pneumonia, his father was forced to send the children away so that he could continue fishing. Benny’s sister went to a school in Oregon, but Benny went to the Jesse Lee Mission School in Seward, Alaska. At the mission school Benny learned about the Alaska Flag contest.
Until today, Benny’s flag is the quintessential example of “less is more.” His entry explanation stated: (1) The blue represents the Alaska sky and the state flower, the forget-me-not., (2) The North Star represents the future statehood of Alaska, and (3) And finally, The Big Dipper represents the Great Bear which to Aleut culture symbolizes strength.
Later, he reported that his vision for the flag came from his island home in the Aleutians. He told how he sat on the rocky shores and studied the sky and stars, thinking about his family and home. Initially, Benny inscribed “1867” on his flag to indicate when Alaska’s purchase date. Eventually, Alaska dropped the date from the flag, but that is the ONLY change made in Alaska’s flag since 1927.
An Instant “Hero!”
Once Benny won the Alaska Flag contest, he became the “kid who made history.” Alaska’s territorial congress awarded Benny a watch with the flag engraved on it and a $1,000.00 scholarship. He used this award to attend diesel mechanic school. When Alaska achieved statehood in 1959 and became the “49th Star of the US Flag,” Benny’s Alaska Flag became the official state flag, no longer the territorial flag. He and his flag were part of the Statehood celebration.
Alaska Flag Story: a Song for a State Flag
In 1899 Alaska gold seekers from around the world Southeast Alaska by the thousands hoping to strike it rich in the Klondike. Ironically, the “Klondike” was in Canada. Although there were numerous routes to the Klondike, the best route (although still arduous) was through Skagway at the terminus of the Lynn Canal.
Similar to Wild West towns such as Tombstone and Dodge City, Skagway overflowed with all sorts of criminals, swindlers, drinkers, and connivers. Because of Skagway’s wildness, and even though Alaska was not a recognized territory in 1902 the US Army established a post about an hour from Skagway in the village of Haines, Alaska.
Naming the Fort at Haines
They named the fort Ft. Seward after William Seward who negotiated the 1867 Alaska purchase. But. locals affectionately called it the Chikoot Barracks after the Chilkoot Trail. This famous trail wound from Skagway, Alaska to the rough goldfields of Canada. The name Chilkoot Barracks became its official name in 1930. Because its purpose was pretty much exhausted after World War II, the post permanently closed in 1945. At the present time, the fort is a living museum with a beautiful officers’ row, enlisted barracks, parade grounds, and company headquarters.
A Territorial Song is Born!
In 1935 Marie Drake a worker at the Alaska Ed. Dept, wrote a poem honoring Benny’s flag; she called it “Alaska’s Flag.” Even though the poem was lovely, it didn’t fully catch hold until three years later. But, as a result of her work, in 1938, at Chilkoot Barracks, Alaska’s Flag gained more notoriety. At that time, Elinor Dusenbury, wife of Chilkoot Barracks commanding officer, composed music for Drake’s poem. This is now part of the beautiful Alaska Flag Story.
Surprisingly, the Alaska Flag Song was an overnight hit throughout the territory! Very simply, Mrs. Dusenbury named it “Alaska Flag Song.” To this very day, it is one of the loveliest and most “singable” territorial (now state) songs of all 50 states.
Interested in Alaska?
Kathy Slamp is an experienced and seasoned Alaska naturalist. She introduces countless cruisers to Alaska through shipboard presentations and comments from the navigational bridge. In addition to eight other Alaska posts in this blog, she has several books about Alaska available for purchase. Click here to review and purchase Kathy’s Alaska books.
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Enjoyed learning about the flag and song–enlightening and entertaining.