Benny Benson's Flag is the official flag of the U.S. state of Alaska. Designed by a 13-year-old boy named Benny Benson in 1927, the flag features a blue field with a pattern of eight gold stars. The stars represent the Big Dipper and the North Star, symbolizing Alaska's connection to the night sky and its position in the northern hemisphere. The flag was chosen as the winner of a design contest held by the Alaska Territorial Legislature. It was officially adopted as the state flag in 1959 when Alaska became the 49th state of the United States.