PROMONTORY SUMMIT, Utah --- The U.S. Postal Service will put its stamps of approval on the 150th Anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad by issuing three new Forever Stamps featuring the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives and the Golden Spike.

A national First Day-of-Issue dedication ceremony for the stamps will be held at 3:30 p.m. (MDT) Friday, May 10, at the Golden Spike National Historical Park on a stage overlooking the spot where the Golden Spike was originally driven with the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives in the background. The event is free to the public.

Scheduled to participate in the brief dedicatory event are Superintendent, Golden Spike National Historical Park Leslie J. Crossland, who will emcee, and USPS Salt Lake City District Manager Michael S. Mirides, who will dedicate the stamps. Crossland will join Mirides in unveiling a giant replica of the new stamps in front of the Jupiter and No. 119 locomotives.

The new Transcontinental Railroad Forever Stamps, stamp-related products, and the National First-Day-of-Issue Postmark will be available at a temporary Post Office at the Golden Spike National Historical Park. Retail hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. Given the remoteness of the location, only cash and checks will be accepted.

“We encourage all those attending the festivities at the Golden Spike National Historical Park on May 10 to join us for what is sure to be a memorable occasion,” said Mirides. “The new Transcontinental Railroad Forever Stamps, combined with the National First-Day-of-Issue Postmark, will make for an inexpensive souvenir of this special day.”

The First-Day-of-Issue Postmark will be applied free to any item bearing current First-Class postage stamps. The Transcontinental Railroad stamps are being issued as Forever stamps, sold in panes of 18. The stamps will be available at Post Offices nationwide beginning May 10 and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

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

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