Soldotna Chamber
of Commerce
44790 Sterling Highway
Soldotna Alaska 99669
Phone: (907) 262-9814
Fax: (907) 262-3566
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Alaska Information
Everything you always wanted to
know about Alaska . . .
and more!
Go to the Contact Page for
additional questions.
The name Alaska is derived from the Aleut word "Alyeska,"
meaning "great land."
The State Nickname is:
"The Last Frontier"
The State Motto is: "North
to the future"
Our motto was chosen in 1967 during the Alaska Purchase Centennial and was created by
Juneau newsman Richard Peter. The motto is meant to represent Alaska as a land of promise.
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STATE FLAG
The blue field is for the sky and the forget-me-not, the state flower. The North Star is
for the future of the state of Alaska, the most northerly of the Union. The dipper is for
the Great Bear, symbolizing strength. |
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STATE SEAL
The State Seal was originally designed in 1910 while Alaska was a territory and not
a state. The rays above the mountains represent the Northern Lights. The smelter
symbolizes mining. The train stands for Alaska’s railroads, and ships denote
transportation by sea. The trees symbolize Alaska’s wealth of forests, and the
farmer, his horse, and the three shocks of wheat represent Alaskan agriculture. The fish
and the seals signify the importance of fishing and wildlife to Alaska’s economy. |
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STATE FLOWER
The forget-me-not, which grows well throughout Alaska, is the state flower. |
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STATE TREE
The tall, stately Sitka spruce is the state tree. It is found in southeastern and central
Alaska. |
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STATE BIRD
The pheasant-like willow ptarmigan is the state bird. This bird changes color from light
brown in summer to snow white in winter. |
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STATE INSECT
The four spot skimmer dragonfly, per legislation (HB 239) introduced by Senator Georgianna
Lincoln on behalf of elementary students in her district, and passed by the 19th
Legislature in 1995
(Ch 49 SLA 95). |
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STATE GEM
Alaska’s state gem is jade. Alaska has large deposits of the gem,
including an entire mountain of jade on the Seward Peninsula. |
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STATE MINERAL
Gold is the state mineral. Gold has played a major role in Alaska’s
history. |
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STATE SPORT
Dog mushing is the state sport. It was once a primary form of
transportation in many areas of Alaska. |
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STATE SONG
The words to the song Alaska’s Flag were written by Marie Drake, a long-time employee
of the Alaska Department of Education, and set to music composed by Elinor Dusenbury, who
husband was commander of Chilkoot Barracks at Haines from 1933 to 1936. The Territorial
Legislature adopted Alaska’s Flag as Alaska’s official song in 1955. Eight stars of gold on a field of blue,
Alaska's Flag, may it mean to you
The blue of the sea, the evening sky,
The mountain lakes and the flow'rs nearby,
The gold of the early sourdough dreams,
The precious gold of the hills and streams,
The brilliant stars in the northern sky,
The Bear, the Dipper, and shining high,
The great North star with its steady light.
O'er land and sea a beacon bright,
Alaska's Flag to Alaskans dear,
The simple flag of a last frontier. |
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