USPS 250th anniversary identifier. A mail carrier holds a Priority Mail® box. A mail carrier holds a bundle of mail under the same arm as their mail bag. A mail carrier stands with their mail bag and holds a stack of letters. A mail carrier crouches by an open blue collection box. Three air mail pilots stand in a row. A plant employee holds a stack of two Priority Mail® boxes. A row of postal employees sort mail from a table filled with letters. A mail carrier holds a stack of letters in one arm and magazines in the other.

Delivering Since 1775

Join the U.S. Postal Service in celebrating our rich history of innovation and commitment to providing trusted, secure communication while we continue to serve the American public now and for the next 250 years.

With a legacy that spans over two centuries, USPS continues to evolve, always putting customers and communities at the heart of everything we do.

Explore Our History
A black-and-white pencil drawing of Benjamin Franklin wearing a cravat. A black-and-white pencil drawing of Benjamin Franklin wearing a cravat.

The First Postmaster General

On July 26, 1775, a year before declaring independence from Great Britain, members of the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the first American Postmaster General at a meeting in Philadelphia. Our founding fathers knew that a robust, reliable, and secure means of exchanging information was critical to unify the distant parts of our nation—and to maintain unity once we achieved independence.

An illustration of a conversation bubble containing an ellipsis overlaps another.

Did You Know?

In the 250 years since the establishment of the Post Office Department, the first American communications network, the Postal Service has evolved with America, boldly embracing new technologies to deliver mail to a growing population.

Discover More Postal Facts
A black-and-white photograph of four men loading gold bullion into a shipping container.
An illustration of a pyramid-like stack of five gold bars.

A Shipment of Gold

In 1941, Railway Mail Service clerks played a critical role in transporting gold bullion from the New York City Assay Office to the depository at Fort Knox, KY. A portion of the $9 billion in gold bullion was shipped as registered mail to help protect the nation’s gold reserves. The Post Office Department’s Inspection Service provided security during the transfer.

An illustration of a crane.

Mail-on-the-Fly

Before the arrival of mail cranes, nonstop trains picked up mail from small towns. As the train slowed to a crawl, the railway mail clerk exchanged the mail pouch by hand. Impractical and potentially dangerous, this method was soon replaced by trackside cranes. Now able to keep moving faster, the trains were equipped with catcher arms that snagged mailbags off the cranes. This process was in effect from the 1860s until early 1970s.

A light and dark brown mail pouch with the words U.S. Mail printed on it.
An illustration of the contiguous United States outline.

Delivering for America

We are committed to reinventing the organization to best serve our mission of binding our nation together. The ten-year Delivering for America® plan, published in 2021, establishes clear strategies for USPS to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence.

Explore All Initiatives
An illustration of an award ribbon with a star in the center.

What’s Happening at USPS

An illustration of Mr. ZIP handing Benjamin Franklin a letter.

250 Years of USPS with
Mail with Mr. ZIP

Special episode now available!
Explore key moments from USPS history with Mr. ZIP and his friends in an episode from our series for kids on YouTube.

Watch Now

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Offering In-Person and Virtual Exhibitions
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Postal Service by exploring one of the largest and most significant philatelic and postal history collections in the world!

Plan Your Visit
A colorful photograph of an older and newer version of a mail truck on display in a brightly lit atrium inside the National Postal Museum.
An illustrated mailbox with a sunny sky in the background and white lettering spelling "Mailin' It!" all across.

Mailin’ It

The Official USPS Podcast
Mailin’ It delves into the rich history of USPS, goes behind the scenes of its present innovations, and discusses its dynamic future with organization and industry leaders.

Listen Now

USPS x Pantone: 250 Years

The Colors That Carried Us
For 250 years, USPS has delivered dreams, declarations, and lifelines across a growing nation. To honor this milestone, we’ve collaborated with Pantone to celebrate the moments that shaped America - through color. The USPS x Pantone palette echoes the hoofbeats of history, the thrill of flight, and the enduring promise of service.

Learn More
USPS x Pantone copy and a row of color blocks in blue, gold, orange, dark red, red, brown, and white placed over a blue collection box.
An illustration of a shopping bag made from a blank stamp.

Shop USPS

An illustrated Forever® stamp depicting people going about their day outside of a Post Office™ location.

250 Years of Delivering Stamps

$15.60
A five-cent postage stamp depicting a blue-and-white portrait of Benjamin Franklin with the years "1775" and "2025" displayed at the top.

Putting a Stamp on the American Experience Stamp

$20.95
A canvas tote with a print of an eagle in flight in the lower left corner.

USPS 250th Anniversary Tote Bag

$20.00
A canvas tote with a print of an eagle in flight and the words "USPS 250" in a circle of stars.

USPS 250th Anniversary Stars Tote Bag

$20.00
A white T-shirt with a print of an eagle in flight in the lower left corner.

USPS 250th Anniversary T-Shirt

$23.00
A white T-shirt with a print of an eagle in flight and the words "USPS 250" in a circle of stars.

USPS 250th Anniversary Star
T-Shirt

$23.00
A black T-shirt with a print of a Benjamin Franklin stamp.

Benjamin Franklin Stamp T-Shirt

$23.00
A colorful photograph of a puzzle featuring the image of the 250 Years of Delivering stamp pane.

250 Years of Delivering Puzzle (500 pc)

$24.95
A colorful photograph of the cover of the Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation book.

Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation

Now available for purchase on The Postal Store® website!

Shop Now
An illustration of an open book.

Explore Our Rich History

Dive into More History
A vertical line of dots centered over a 1600s headline.
A stamp-shaped 17th century map depicting a ship sailing toward New England.

1639

In Boston, a former tavern became America’s first Post Office™ store

A horizontal row of dots connected to a vertical line of dots centered over a 1700s headline.
A black-and-white portrait of Benjamin Franklin wearing a cravat.

1775

Benjamin Franklin appointed as the first Postmaster General

A Post Office Department seal depicting a rider delivering mail on a horse against a yellow background.

1792

United States Post Office Department (predecessor of USPS) established

A horizontal row of dots connected to a vertical line of dots centered over an 1800s headline.
A black-and-white photograph of a steamboat transporting mail.

1815

First contract authorized for steamboats to carry mail

A black-and-white illustration of a steam locomotive stopped at a station with onlooking customers with packages standing nearby.

1832

First contract authorized for railroads to carry mail

A black-and-white portrait of a young Abraham Lincoln wearing a black suit.

1833

Abraham Lincoln appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois

The first two US postage stamps displayed side by side; one featuring a maroon-colored portrait of Benjamin Franklin, the other featuring a sepia-colored portrait of George Washington.

1847

First postage stamps issued

A black-and-white photograph of a postal worker emptying a collection box mounted to a streetlamp.

1858

Street letter boxes installed

A black-and-white antique illustration depicting a rider on a horse, with the words "The Pony Express" at the bottom.

1860

Pony Express began operation

A black-and-white 19th century photograph of a postal worker delivering a letter to a young woman holding a door open.

1863

Free delivery began in cities

A yellowish-brown antique postal money order with a Post Office Department seal in the upper right corner.

1864

Domestic money orders introduced

A trio of partially overlapping stamps from 1892 depicting various scenes from the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

1893

First commemorative stamps issued

A black-and-white photograph depicting a postal worker leaning out of a horse-drawn carriage to place two letters in a rural-area mailbox.

1896

Rural free delivery began

A horizontal row of dots connected to a vertical line of dots centered over a 1900s headline.
An early-20th century black-and-white photograph of an airplane with four men standing nearby.

1918

Airmail took flight

A black-and-white photograph of a soldier handing out mail to a group of fellow soldiers.

1942

V-Mail enabled rapid communication between the warzone and the home front

An upper half of a 1974 postage stamp featuring a colorful illustration and the words "It All Depends on ZIP Code".

1963

ZIP Code™ system introduced

The Loewy Seal depicting an eagle poised for flight with the words "U.S. Mail" underneath and "United States Postal Service" across the top.

1971

United States Postal Service began operations as an independent agency following the Postal Reorganization Act

A Priority Mail Flat Rate® envelope.

1991

Priority Mail Flat Rate® and Express Mail Flat Rate™ envelopes introduced

A colorful photograph featuring a closeup of a hand placing an adhesive stamp in the corner of an envelope.

1992

Self-adhesive stamps introduced

A colorful photograph of the National Postal Museum building against an evening sky backdrop.

1993

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum opened

A colorful photograph of a desktop computer from the 1990s with a browser window displaying a USPS website.

1994

USPS.com® website launched

Two partially overlapping stamps issued in support of breast cancer research featuring a rainbow-colored illustration of a woman holding her arm up after a mastectomy.

1998

First U.S. semipostal stamp issued

A horizontal row of dots connected to a vertical line of dots centered over a 2000s headline.
A closeup of a red-and-white Priority Mail® box with an identical one blurred out in the background.

2004

Priority Mail Flat Rate® Box introduced – If it fits, it ships®

A white-background stamp featuring the bronze Liberty Bell and the words First-Class Forever on the side.

2007

First Forever® stamp issued

A colorful photograph of a desktop calendar displaying the month of December and three small decorative Christmas trees.

2014

Sunday package delivery began in high-volume areas during holiday season

An Informed Delivery ® email depicted on a smartphone screen with a raised mailbox flag attached to the phone.

2017

Informed Delivery® service became available nationwide

A colorful photograph of three large postal trucks on a highway during sunset.

2021

Delivering for America® plan introduced

A vertical line of dots centered over a 2025 headline.

USPS
celebrates 250 years of service to the American people!

USPS 250th anniversary identifier
Back to top arrow Back to top arrow

Back to Top