The State Flag of Alaska features a dark blue field with a simple design of gold stars. The flag was adopted in 1959 when Alaska became the 49th state of the United States. The blue represents the sky and the sea, while the gold stars symbolize the state's wealth in natural resources. The flag's design includes the Big Dipper constellation and the North Star. The Big Dipper is a prominent feature in the Alaskan night sky, while the North Star represents Alaska's northern location. The flag was created by a 13-year-old boy named Benny Benson as part of a contest in 1927.