Was the Alaska flag designed by a 13-year-old?
Was the Alaska flag designed by a 13-year-old?
The creator of the flag was Benny Benson, a 13-year-old boy living in an orphanage. He chose straightforward symbols that struck a chord with Alaskans of all ages and backgrounds. The flag’s dark blue colour symbolizes the Alaskan sky and the ubiquitous forget-me-not flowers that announce the arrival of spring.
Who designed the flag for Alaska?
Benny Benson
The contest winner was Benny Benson, a seventh-grader at the territorial school at Seward. His design of eight stars to represent the Big Dipper, placed on a blue background to represent the sky, and the forget-me-not flower, was a unanimous winner by the panel of judges.
How old was the designer of the Alaska flag?
13-year-old
In its journey to statehood, the Alaska Department of the American Legion held a 1927 flag design contest for children across Alaska, grades 7-12. The chosen flag was designed by 13-year-old Benny Benson who lived at Jesse Lee Mission Home in Seward, a home for displaced children.
Is Benny Benson still alive?
Deceased (1913–1972)
Benny Benson/Living or Deceased
How old was Benny Benson when he designed the Alaska flag?
age 13 years old
John Ben “Benny” Benson Jr. (October 12, 1913 – July 2, 1972) was an Alaska native who is well-known for designing the flag of Alaska. Benny was age 13 years old when he won a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the Territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state on January 3, 1959.
What States flag was designed by a seventh grader?
Alaska state flag
The Alaska state flag (selected for its simplicity, originality, and symbolism) was created by Benny Benson, a 13-year-old 7th grader from an orphanage in Seward, Alaska (John Bell Bensona; 1913-1972).
Who designed the state flag?
jeweler Charles Talcott
The emblem on the state flag is the state seal, which was first designed in 1889 by Olympia jeweler Charles Talcott. Talcott used an ink bottle and a silver dollar to draw the rings of the seal, and then pasted a postage stamp in the center for the picture of George Washington.
Why is the Alaska flag the Big Dipper?
His favorite constellation was the Big Dipper. When Benny designed his flag, he thought about Alaska’s night sky and the familiar constellation. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the union. The Dipper is for the Great Bear—symbolizing strength.”
When was Benny Benson born?
12 October 1913
Benny Benson/Date of birth
Benny Benson was born in Chignik, a small village on the south shore of the Alaska Peninsula on October 12, 1913.
Where is Benny Benson buried?
There is a school named after him and a memorial at mile 1.4, of the Seward Highway, in Alaska. Exact location of his burial is unknown. Benny Benson was born in Chignik, Alaska in 1913….John Ben “Benny Benson” Benson Jr.
| Birth | 12 Oct 1913 Chignik, Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, USA |
|---|---|
| Burial | Unknown |
| Memorial ID | 24087330 · View Source |
How did Benny find out about the contest to create Alaska’s flag?
Benny Benson lived with his brother Carl at the Jesse Lee Home in Seward and was in seventh grade. He heard about the contest and thought about it that night as he gazed out the window at the stars of the Big Dipper.
When was Alaska state flag made?
May 2, 1927
Flag of Alaska
| Use | Civil and state flag |
| Proportion | 125:177 |
| Adopted | May 2, 1927 |
| Design | Eight gold stars, in the shape of “the big dipper”, on a blue background. The North Star is larger than the other 7. |
| Designed by | Benny Benson |
How old was Benny Benson when he died?
Benson had several stepchildren and grandchildren. He died of a heart attack in Kodiak, Alaska, on July 2 of that year, at the age of 58 years old.
How old was Benny Benson when Alaska became a state?
Benny was age 13 years old when he won a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the Territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state on January 3, 1959. John Ben Benson Jr. was born in Chignik, Territory of Alaska, on October 12, 1913.
Where are the cubby holes of Benny Benson?
Benny and Carl’s cubby-holes still exist in the former Jesse Lee Home in Seward, Alaska. John Ben ” Benny ” Benson Jr. ( Russian: Джон Бен (Бенни) Бенсон — младший; October 12, 1913 – July 2, 1972) was a mixed-race Alaska native who is well-known for designing the flag of Alaska.
How old was Benny Benson when he designed the US flag?
John Ben “Benny” Benson Jr. (October 12, 1913 – July 2, 1972) designed the flag of Alaska. Benny was age 13 years old when he won a contest in 1927 to design the flag for the Territory of Alaska, which became a U.S. state on January 3, 1959.