The Willow Ptarmigan is 40 centimeters tall with brown, orange, gray, and white feathers. It lives in the coldest regions of Alaska. It has a song that is not sad. The willow ptarmigan is known for its behaviors and its weird shape. The willow ptarmigan is important to the state of Alaska because it is the only bird that can change color in the summer and winter. The willow ptarmigan became the state bird of Alaska in 1955.  


Top Of Page

The forget-me-not is 6 to 12 inches tall with blue petals. It grows on farms and in places in Alaska where it doesn’t snow. The forget-me-not is known for its beautiful color and scent. The forget-me-not is important in the state of Alaska because it has a light blue color and it blooms all year long. The forget-me-not became the state flower of Alaska on April 28, 1917.   

The Sitka spruce is 70 meters tall with green leaves. It grows near rivers and streams, on flood plains and on coastal fog belts. The Sitka spruce is known for being very tall, and green, and having a lot of twigs that are a yellow-brown to orange-brown color. The Sitka spruce is important to the state of Alaska because its bark and timber are used to make paper and musical instruments such as the piano, guitar, and more. The Sitka spruce became the state tree of Alaska on February 28, 1962.

Top Of Page

The Alaska flag has a dark blue background that represents the sky. The blue also represents the state flower, which is the forget-me-not, a blue flower that grows in Alaska. Seven yellow stars show the shape of the big dipper. The big dipper is part of the constellation known as the Great Bear. The Great Bear is a symbol that represents the strength of Alaska. In the upper right corner there is also a picture of the North Star. The North Star helps people find their way when they’re lost. This is important to the state of Alaska because without it everybody who got lost would have died. When this flag was designed, Alaska was about to become a state. It was going to be the state that’s farthest north. That’s also why the North Star is on the flag. Did you know that a 13-year old boy designed the state flag? The Alaska flag was adopted in 1959.   

Top Of Page