Our guide knew quite a bit of Sitka's history, the natives that first inhabited this area and the Russians that later claimed it as their home. Our tour guide also sang Alaska's state song and told us about the history of the state flag. The flag was designed by a 13 year old Aleut native orphan, the blue background representing the sky, the sea and the state flower, the Blue Bonnet, the stars in the form of the Big Dipper, or Ursa Major, the Great bear to show strength and the North Star to show the most northern territory in the Union. Alaska became the 49th state in 1959.

Original Photo