Celebrating 250 Years of Connecting Communities: The Postal Service Marks a Proud Anniversary

USPS highlights its legacy of service and commitment to innovation

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Postal Service will mark the 250th anniversary of its founding on July 26. To celebrate the organization's rich history of connecting people, communities and businesses, USPS will hold a series of special events this week and highlight other activities, including licensed merchandise, digital media, a stamp contest and special signage at Post Offices.

"On July 26th, we proudly observe the 250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service and mark two and a half centuries of service to the American public," said Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner. "In 1775, our Founding Fathers recognized the importance of creating an institution that could bind the nation together and foster secure and accessible communications between every community in America. The rich and enduring history of the Postal Service demonstrates the strength of their wisdom, and we look forward to providing reliable, affordable, and universal service for generations to come."

Anniversary events

Celebrations

• Dedication ceremony for the 250 Years of Delivering stamps and the Benjamin Franklin stamp included within the "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience" prestige booklet. Wednesday, July 23.
• Celebration at various Post Office locations nationwide.
• Smithsonian National Postal Museum's Postal Party Family Festival, featuring family-friendly activities, games, crafts and stories. Saturday, July 26.

Publications

• "Putting a Stamp on the American Experience," highlighting the depth and range of the U.S. stamp program. Includes two sheets of a new Benjamin Franklin Forever stamp based on an 1847 stamp of the first postmaster general.
• "Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation," a coffee table book written by historian Jim Bruns. Available this fall at major booksellers, select Post Office locations and the Postal Store.
• "The United States Postal Service: An American History" — 250th anniversary edition, available online and in print.

Special Signs and Displays
Special 250th anniversary signs featuring the Eagle in Flight graphic for retail locations across the nation.

• Large-format banners showcasing the Eagle in Flight, displayed on the USPS headquarters building in Washington, DC, for the duration of the anniversary.
• Anniversary signage including posters and door decals at retail locations.
• Vehicles past and present, including examples of the organization's oldest and newest vehicles, displayed at USPS headquarters.

Media

• A special website, Delivering Since 1775, featuring historical facts and additional anniversary information at USPS.com/250.
• Ongoing coverage in Link, the daily news website for USPS employees, including a series on the organization's history.
• An episode of "Mail with Mr. ZIP," an animated series aiming to teach children about the importance of mail and community, on the organization's 250th anniversary.

Merchandise

• New T-shirts, hats, puzzles and other merchandise displaying the Eagle in Flight graphic will be available on the Postal Store.

Special Stamp Re-Issue

• The U.S. Postal Service is inviting the public to participate in a voting event to choose a previously issued stamp to re-issue. The stamp issuance that receives the highest number of votes will be announced in 2026. Voting will take place from July 23 to Sept. 30 at StampsForever.com/vote.

A Brief History

On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as postmaster general of the United Colonies. The founders believed that a democratic form of government depended on the free exchange of news, ideas and opinions, and a Colonial postal system was formed.

The ratification of the Constitution in 1788 gave Congress the power "to establish Post Offices and post roads." At that time, 75 Post Offices served 4 million people. As the population grew, the postal system explored various methods of transportation to keep up with demand.

Initially, mail was carried by horseback and stagecoach, but the need for more efficient transportation was growing with the nation. In 1808, the mail was first transported by steamboat, and in 1832, railroads began moving mail, with the first official U.S. Railway Post Office route established in 1864. A variety of vehicles carried mail in the 1900s, including motor wagons, Jeeps, Mailsters and Long Life Vehicles.

Demand for more accessible mail services led to the establishment of Free City Delivery through an act of Congress in 1863. Income from local postage would pay for home delivery in many cities. For the first time, Americans had to put their street addresses on their letters. With approximately 65 percent of the population living in rural communities, a growing push for equal services prompted the start of Rural Free Delivery in 1896.

In 1918, airmail services began with flights from New York to Washington, D.C. Many Army pilots flew the mail before the Post Office Department hired its own pilots. Later, the mail was flown by contractors establishing the groundwork for the commercial airline industry.

Mail delivery during times of war played a significant role in boosting the morale of soldiers. The postal network provides essential mail services to military members stationed around the world and support for specialized military postal units. The Postal Service is one of the largest employers for veterans, with nearly 70,000 employed today.

The Zoning Improvement Plan Code, or ZIP Code, was established in 1963. It allowed postal employees to sort mail easily with five-digit codes and paved the way for high-speed optical character recognition and automated sorters. Rising mail volumes prompted the introduction of ZIP+4, enabling automated equipment to sort mail to the correct carrier at delivery offices, making sortation even more efficient.

Today, the innovations continue, with a $40 billion investment in infrastructure, improved facilities and new sorting equipment. Processing capabilities have expanded to 371 million mailpieces per day, retail branches have grown to 34,000 locations and 649,000 USPS employees now service nearly 169 million addresses nationwide.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Please Note:

The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter;Facebook; Instagram; Pinterest; Threads; and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

Contact: Melissa Chavez
melissa.chavez@usps.gov
usps.com/news

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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service