History & Facts of Alaska

History

• Purchased from Russia in 1867 for under 2 cents an acre.

Official

• State Motto: North to the future.
• State Flower: Forget-me-not.
  The plant grows well in most of Alaska's varied climate.

• State Bird: Alaska Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus alascensis Swarth)
  It can change it's color from light brown to snow white. The willow ptarmigan was named Alaska's state bird in 1955.

• State Tree: Sitka spruce (picea sitchenensis)
  The evergreen is found throughout the southeastern and central areas of Alaska.
• State Marine Mammal: Bowhead whale
• State Fish: King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
  King salmon weighing up to 100 lb. have been caught in Alaska. The king salmon is also known as the chinook salmon and is a popular sport fish. It became the state fish in 1962.

• State Sport: Dog Mushing
  It once was the primary form of transportation in most of Alaska. Today dog sled racing is a popular winter sport. It was adopted as the state sport in 1972.

• State Gem: Jade
  Alaska has a large deposit of jade, including an big mountain filled with dark green jade on the Seward Peninsula.
• State Mineral: Gold
  The search for gold played a major role in shaping the history of Alaska, from the discovery of gold in Juneau to the great gold rush at Nome. Gold was named the state mineral in 1968.
• State Insect: Four spot skimmer dragonfly

One of the plates available.