A star child called Benny Benson

Back in Alaska in 1927, a contest for designing the Alaskan territory flag was opened. Over 700 designs were submitted. The winner was a 13-year-old orphan named Benny Benson.

Benny looked to the sky for inspiration, choosing the familiar constellation he looked at every night before going to sleep at the orphanage. He submitted a beautiful blue flag with the Big Dipper constellation and the Northstar in gold.

BENNY BENSON. Jesse Lee Home album; Anchorage Museum, B1978.180.131 →

BENNY BENSON. Jesse Lee Home album; Anchorage Museum, B1978.180.131 ↓

WE COSMOS AW19/20 BY BOBO CHOSES

Benny was awarded a watch with the flag emblem on it and $1.000 which he used to go to Engineering School.

Like Benny did once, we also looked up to the sky to discover that there’s a flag that links to all of us, the Universe.

Dedicated to all those kids who know we are all made of stars!

 

Benny Benson and his beautiful flag design for the Alaskan territory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Benson ←

Benny Benson and his beautiful flag design for the Alaskan territory https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Benson  ↓

Have a look at some of the prints inspired by Benny himself, his hometown landscapes and by the starry sky he loved to contemplate. His story delightens all of us!

Want to listen the story by Benny himself? We found this super old interview made to him by the Anchorage School District in Alaska.

Benny Benson, with pig in livestock pen. Jesse Lee Home album; Anchorage Museum, B1978.180.132  ↓

Benny Benson, with pig in livestock pen. Jesse Lee Home album; Anchorage Museum, B1978.180.132 ←

If you ever visit Alaska and are near Seward, you may want to visit the Benny Benson Memorial. It will be of interest to all, but especially for children to see what a young boy can do!