January 3, 2020 – Alaska

On this date in 1959, Alaska became the 49th state admitted to the Union. It was the 4th of five states to be admitted in the 20th Century.

Alaska’s flag was chosen from among 700 entires in a 1927 contest sponsored by the American Legion to develop a territorial flag for Alaska. Students in grades 7 to 12 were eligible to participate and the winning design was created by Benny Benson. Of his design, he said, “The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaskan flower. The Northern Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear—symbolizing strength.”