Postal history
Explore the past, glimpse the future.
In the nearly 250 years since Benjamin Franklin was appointed our first Postmaster General in 1775, the Postal Service has grown and changed with America, boldly embracing new technologies to better serve a growing population. We invite you to use these links to explore our rich history.
- Significant dates
- A chronology of postal milestones
- Stamps and postcards
- A history of stamps and postal stationery
- Postage rates and historical statistics
- Postage rates and postal history by the numbers
- Personnel
- Diversity in the workforce and prominent postal workers
- Moving the mail
- Mail transportation, from mules to missile mail
- Delivering the mail and more
- Fun facts, past programs, and unusual deliveries
- Post offices and facilities
- The history of postal places
- Uniforms and equipment
- The evolution of uniforms, mailboxes and postal gear
- Additional resources
- Sources for more information
Featured sections
The official history of the USPS
See our 156-page illustrated book The United States Postal Service: An American History.
To order a printed copy, see How to Order.
Kids’ history of the USPS
A Kids’ History of the United States Postal Service, for young readers, shares USPS history in 40 fun-filled pages.