Miami, FL — This weekend (Feb. 3-4), approximately 400 Boy Scouts and Scout Leaders will relive part of South Florida history in the Boy Scouts of America - South Florida Council’s 54th Annual Barefoot Mailman Hike. On Feb. 4, postal officials will congratulate and welcome hikers at “Barefoot Mailman Station” (see below).

This hike honors the efforts of the 1890s South Florida letter carriers, known as the “Barefoot Mailmen,” who walked and carried mail on a four-day journey from Palm Beach to Miami. In October 1887, Carrier James Hamilton mysteriously disappeared along the journey. It is believed that he lost his life at Hillsboro Inlet, attempting to retrieve a dingy he used to get across the waterway. The annual Barefoot Mailman Hike commemorates these mailmen by completing Hamilton’s final route.

The Scouts and their leaders will hike the 34 miles, starting Pompano Beach Pier, and ending in South Beach in Miami Beach, FL. Participants will be carrying commemorative letters on their journey. And just like the Barefoot Mailmen, participants will be self-sufficient, carrying all their food, shelter, and items on their backs.

On Saturday night, Feb. 3, participants will camp at Haulover Park at the end of their journey. On Sunday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m., postal officials will affix a “Barefoot Mailman Station” special cancellation postmark to each commemorative letter at Haulover Park in the area of Collins Avenue and 22nd Street, Miami Beach, FL.   

“This is a great event that allows the youth and adults both to learn more about South Florida history, as well as live a portion of it!” said Otto Goedhart, Field Director, Boy Scouts of America South Florida Council.

(Both Goedhart and Fred Kimball, 2018 Barefoot Mailman Coordinator, will accompany Scouts on the hike and will be available to media along the route. Refer to above contact information.)

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

###

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.

For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.

Follow us on twitter.com/USPS and like us at facebook.com/USPS. For more information about the Postal Service, go to usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.