BODEGA BAY, CA— On Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. the Bodega Bay Post Office will commemorate the Postal Service’s proud 250 Years of connecting community.

Postal officials will commemorate the anniversary with a pictorial postmark and lively community celebration featuring highlights of Bodega Bay history and local artifacts.
The celebration, free and open to the public, will be held at 537 Smith Brother Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923.

Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase from an array of stamps including 250 Years of Delivering First Class stamps and receive a free pictorial cancellation with purchase.
Attendees can also send a letter at this special station or keep this special commemorative piece to celebrate local postal history.

“The Bodega Bay Post Office has proudly served this community for 130 years and we’re proud to observe the 250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service and its rich history of service to the American Public,” said Bodega Bay Postmaster Tarun Anand. “This cancellation is a great reminder of the ubiquitous nature of the Postal Service and its enduring commitment to service and community.”

The cancellation will also be available at the Bodega Bay Post Office for 30 days.

Pictorial postmarks also may be obtained through the mail for anyone unable to attend through October 13, 2025.

For one or more postmarks, affix the minimum of a First-Class stamp to an envelope or postcard, address the envelope or postcard to yourself or to others, insert a card of thickness in the envelope(s), and tuck in the flap(s). Place the envelope(s) or postcard(s) in a large envelope and mail to:

Bodega Bay Post Office
ATTN: Bodega Bay Postmaster
537 Smith Brother Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923.

Anniversary events

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 through 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.

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