This weekend, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is celebrating a remarkable milestone—its 250th anniversary.
The semiquincentennial will be commemorated with an event at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., highlighting two and a half centuries of service since its founding.
Additionally, two special commemorative stamps will be unveiled to honor the occasion.
Established as the U.S. Post Office Department on July 26, 1775, by the decree of the Second Continental Congress, USPS has evolved significantly over the years.
In 1970, Congress transformed the USPS from a cabinet-level department into an independent agency, marking the beginning of the modern postal service we know today.
Historians recognize the establishment of a national postal service as pivotal for the unity of the fledgling nation during the Revolutionary War.
One of the new commemorative stamps showcases Benjamin Franklin, featuring a contemporary interpretation of one of the first U.S. postage stamps from 1847.
Franklin, a key figure in the Second Continental Congress, served as the first U.S. postmaster general and had previously held a similar position under British rule from 1757 to 1774.
The second stamp pays tribute to the dedication of USPS employees, highlighted with a new collection of cityscape illustrations that depict a postal worker on her route throughout the four seasons.
In association with the stamp launch, USPS has also announced a 32-page booklet—its fourth ever published—that will showcase selected stamp artwork from throughout the agency’s history.
Newly appointed postmaster general, David Steiner, expressed that these stamps reflect enduring American values such as perseverance, trust, and imagination.
“For the United States Postal Service, today is a milestone 250 years in the making,” Steiner stated on Wednesday.
He emphasized that the stamps serve as a meaningful glimpse into the shared history of the country.
The upcoming celebration coincides with ongoing discussions surrounding the future of USPS, as recent months have seen speculation about the possibility of folding USPS into the Commerce Department.
While President Donald Trump previously indicated interest in privatizing the postal service, a White House official confirmed that there are no current efforts to advance such proposals.
In February, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced his departure from the position, and Steiner, a former FedEx board member, assumed the role earlier this month.
Upon taking office, Steiner made it clear that he does not support privatizing USPS or making it an appropriated part of the federal government.
On Saturday, the National Postal Museum will host a family-friendly Postal Party to celebrate the 250th anniversary.
This event will feature a range of activities, crafts, and games for attendees, including a reenactor portraying Franklin, offering children an interactive way to learn about postal history.
Among the historic highlights will be Owney, the 19th-century terrier who served as an unofficial mascot for the Postal Service, and the iconic Stinson Reliant, an early airmail carrier model from the late 1930s.
While the event will reflect on the past, there is a significant emphasis on the future.
Anne Matlock, the museum’s youth and family programs manager, noted that the celebration aims to connect histories with visions for the future of the Postal Service.
“We often don’t think about all the ways that the Postal Service is connecting us through our family, our community, to other spaces,” Matlock explained.
The event seeks to inspire attendees to reflect on these connections and to appreciate the vital role of Postal Service workers in their lives.
Further enriching the experience, the museum is collaborating with other Smithsonian institutions.
Activities include an airmail delivery game with the National Air and Space Museum and a Franklin-focused creative design project with the National Museum of American History, alongside storytime sessions led by the D.C. Public Library.
The free celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., inviting the public to join in this significant observance of 250 years of postal service.
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