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State Flower of Alaska

In 1907, the early settlers of Alaska formed the Pioneers of Alaska the purpose of which was to "unite the old-timers of Alaska and by permanent organization, preserve the names of all early settlers on its rolls; to collect and preserve the incidents of Alaska's literature and history, and to promote the best interest of the Territory." The organization consisted of two groups, Igloos for men and Auxiliaries for women. The first constitution of the Grand Igloo stated, “The official flower of the Pioneers of Alaska shall be the Alaska For-get-me-not.” The women of the Auxiliaries later adopted the Forget-Me-Not flower as thier unofficial emblem.

In 1917 the Governor of the Territory of Alaska signed a bill to make the Forget-Me-Not the official flower. The bill contained two poems:

A little flower blossoms forth
On every hill and dale,

The emblem of the Pioneers
Upon the rugged trail;

The Pioneers have asked it
And we could deny them not;

So the emblem of Alaska
Is the blue Forget-me-not.

So in thinking for an emblem
For this Empire of the North
We will choose this azure flower
That the golden days bring forth,
For we want men to remember
That Alaska came to stay
Though she slept unknown for ages
And awakened in a day.
So although they say we’re living
In the land that God forgot,
We’ll recall Alaska to them
With our blue Forget-me-not.

by Esther Birdsall Darling

The blue background of the Alaskan flag represents the blue skies of Alaska and the treasured Forget-Me-Not flower. The Forget-Me-Not was recognized as the official state flower in 1949 when Alaska became a state.