Benny Benson was born in Chignik, Alaska in 1912. He was an Alaskan native, residing in Seward. In 1927, when he was just 14 years old, he entered a contest, to come up with a design, for the flag of ALASKA. Alaska was a U.S. territory at the time. Benny won with his design, his was one out of over 700 submissions statewide from school children from grades 7-12. He was awarded $1000 dollars, and a gold watch engraved with a picture of the Alaskan flag. Before his design was made into the flag of Alaska, only the U.S. flag had been flown, since Alaska's purchase from Russia in 1867.
The flag's design is this: The blue field was for the Alaska sky and the Forget-Me-Not, an Alaskan flower. The North star, for the future state, most northerly in the Union. The Constellation of the Dipper, symbolizes the great bear, symbolizing strength. It was first flown on July 9, 1927. Benny was considered a type of hero, since Native Alaskans had only been given citizenship and the right to vote just 4 years prior. Benny was living at the Jesse Lee Children's home when he came up with the design for the flag. The home was located in Unalaska, an island in the Fox Islands group, of the Aleutian Islands.
Benny's mother died when he was young and his father was a poor fur trader, who couldn't take care of him and his brother Carl. He also had a sister that he saw again in the 1950's after being separated from her for close to 30 years. (she was sent to Oregon to be raised, Benny and Carl were sent to the orphanage)
Benny took his prize money and enrolled at Hemphill Diesel Engineering school in Seattle, Washington. He enrolled to learn diesel engine repair. He was married twice, and had two daughters from his first wife. He moved back to Alaska after divorcing his first wife. He next married a lady that he knew from his old school. He died on July 2, 1972 at the age of 58. Benny had several Stepchildren and Grandchildren. 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.
Photo credits: University of Alaska
Birth date of Alaska flag designer Benny Benson corrected a century later
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/AKDHSS/2022/03/10/file_attachments/2099597/DHSS_PressRelease_DPH_BennyBensonBirthDate_20220310.pdf
The flag's design is this: The blue field was for the Alaska sky and the Forget-Me-Not, an Alaskan flower. The North star, for the future state, most northerly in the Union. The Constellation of the Dipper, symbolizes the great bear, symbolizing strength. It was first flown on July 9, 1927. Benny was considered a type of hero, since Native Alaskans had only been given citizenship and the right to vote just 4 years prior. Benny was living at the Jesse Lee Children's home when he came up with the design for the flag. The home was located in Unalaska, an island in the Fox Islands group, of the Aleutian Islands.
Benny's mother died when he was young and his father was a poor fur trader, who couldn't take care of him and his brother Carl. He also had a sister that he saw again in the 1950's after being separated from her for close to 30 years. (she was sent to Oregon to be raised, Benny and Carl were sent to the orphanage)
Benny took his prize money and enrolled at Hemphill Diesel Engineering school in Seattle, Washington. He enrolled to learn diesel engine repair. He was married twice, and had two daughters from his first wife. He moved back to Alaska after divorcing his first wife. He next married a lady that he knew from his old school. He died on July 2, 1972 at the age of 58. Benny had several Stepchildren and Grandchildren. 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.
Photo credits: University of Alaska
Birth date of Alaska flag designer Benny Benson corrected a century later
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/AKDHSS/2022/03/10/file_attachments/2099597/DHSS_PressRelease_DPH_BennyBensonBirthDate_20220310.pdf
Benny Benson was born in Chignik, Alaska in 1912. He was an Alaskan native, residing in Seward. In 1927, when he was just 14 years old, he entered a contest, to come up with a design, for the flag of ALASKA. Alaska was a U.S. territory at the time. Benny won with his design, his was one out of over 700 submissions statewide from school children from grades 7-12. He was awarded $1000 dollars, and a gold watch engraved with a picture of the Alaskan flag. Before his design was made into the flag of Alaska, only the U.S. flag had been flown, since Alaska's purchase from Russia in 1867.
The flag's design is this: The blue field was for the Alaska sky and the Forget-Me-Not, an Alaskan flower. The North star, for the future state, most northerly in the Union. The Constellation of the Dipper, symbolizes the great bear, symbolizing strength. It was first flown on July 9, 1927. Benny was considered a type of hero, since Native Alaskans had only been given citizenship and the right to vote just 4 years prior. Benny was living at the Jesse Lee Children's home when he came up with the design for the flag. The home was located in Unalaska, an island in the Fox Islands group, of the Aleutian Islands.
Benny's mother died when he was young and his father was a poor fur trader, who couldn't take care of him and his brother Carl. He also had a sister that he saw again in the 1950's after being separated from her for close to 30 years. (she was sent to Oregon to be raised, Benny and Carl were sent to the orphanage)
Benny took his prize money and enrolled at Hemphill Diesel Engineering school in Seattle, Washington. He enrolled to learn diesel engine repair. He was married twice, and had two daughters from his first wife. He moved back to Alaska after divorcing his first wife. He next married a lady that he knew from his old school. He died on July 2, 1972 at the age of 58. Benny had several Stepchildren and Grandchildren. 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.
Photo credits: University of Alaska
Birth date of Alaska flag designer Benny Benson corrected a century later
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/AKDHSS/2022/03/10/file_attachments/2099597/DHSS_PressRelease_DPH_BennyBensonBirthDate_20220310.pdf
The flag's design is this: The blue field was for the Alaska sky and the Forget-Me-Not, an Alaskan flower. The North star, for the future state, most northerly in the Union. The Constellation of the Dipper, symbolizes the great bear, symbolizing strength. It was first flown on July 9, 1927. Benny was considered a type of hero, since Native Alaskans had only been given citizenship and the right to vote just 4 years prior. Benny was living at the Jesse Lee Children's home when he came up with the design for the flag. The home was located in Unalaska, an island in the Fox Islands group, of the Aleutian Islands.
Benny's mother died when he was young and his father was a poor fur trader, who couldn't take care of him and his brother Carl. He also had a sister that he saw again in the 1950's after being separated from her for close to 30 years. (she was sent to Oregon to be raised, Benny and Carl were sent to the orphanage)
Benny took his prize money and enrolled at Hemphill Diesel Engineering school in Seattle, Washington. He enrolled to learn diesel engine repair. He was married twice, and had two daughters from his first wife. He moved back to Alaska after divorcing his first wife. He next married a lady that he knew from his old school. He died on July 2, 1972 at the age of 58. Benny had several Stepchildren and Grandchildren. 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.
Photo credits: University of Alaska
Birth date of Alaska flag designer Benny Benson corrected a century later
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/AKDHSS/2022/03/10/file_attachments/2099597/DHSS_PressRelease_DPH_BennyBensonBirthDate_20220310.pdf
