ALASKA

State of Alaska

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: From the Aleut word alyeska, meaning "great land." NICKNAME: The Last Frontier; also, the Land of the Midnight Sun. CAPITAL: Juneau. ENTERED UNION: 3 January 1959 (49th). SONG: "Alaska's Flag." MOTTO: North to the Future. FLAG: On a blue field, eight gold stars form the Big Dipper and the North Star. OFFICIAL SEAL: In the inner circle symbols of mining, agriculture, and commerce are depicted against a background of mountains and the northern lights. In the outer circle are a fur seal, a salmon, and the words "The Seal of the State of Alaska." BIRD: Willow ptarmigan. FISH: King salmon. FLOWER: Wild forget-me-not. TREE: Sitka spruce. GEM: Jade. MINERAL: Gold. SPORT: Dogteam racing (mushing). LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Lincoln's Birthday, 12 February; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Seward's Day, last Monday in March; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Alaska Day, 18 October; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: noon GMT = 3 AM Alaska Standard Time, 2 AM Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time.