- The United States Postal Service marks its 250th anniversary on July 26, 2025.
- Nationwide celebrations, stamp dedications, and museum events are taking place throughout the week.
- The USPS highlights its long legacy of innovation, service, and public trust.
- The Postal Service remains a self-funded agency serving 169 million addresses.
The Big Picture
WASHINGTON — This week, the United States Postal Service (USPS) celebrates a rare and remarkable milestone: 250 years of delivering for the American people. On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General, laying the foundation for what would become one of the country’s most enduring institutions.
To commemorate its sestercentennial, USPS is hosting a slate of public and employee-centered events nationwide. These include stamp releases, a family festival at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, digital storytelling, and a public vote to reissue one of America’s favorite stamps. A special website, usps.com/250, offers historical deep dives and interactive content celebrating this legacy.
What’s New
The anniversary spotlight includes the release of a new Benjamin Franklin Forever stamp and a comprehensive coffee table book titled Delivering for America: How the United States Postal Service Built a Nation, set to hit shelves this fall. USPS retail branches are also adorned with banners, signage, and displays featuring the “Eagle in Flight” emblem — a symbol of continuity and pride.
“On July 26th, we proudly observe the 250th Anniversary of the United States Postal Service,” said Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner, “and mark two and a half centuries of service to the American public.”
A Legacy of Firsts
Throughout its history, the Postal Service has led major transportation and communication innovations — from steamboats and stagecoaches to airplanes and automated sorting machines. It helped pioneer commercial aviation through airmail contracts and introduced Rural Free Delivery to ensure no American, regardless of geography, would be left behind.
In 1963, the invention of the ZIP Code transformed mail logistics forever. Today, USPS processes over 371 million mailpieces each day, with more than 640,000 employees servicing 169 million addresses across the country.
What They’re Saying
Industry leaders, historians, and everyday Americans have taken to social media and news outlets to recognize the Postal Service’s contributions. “It’s more than mail — it’s about connection, reliability, and public trust,” wrote a former USPS regional manager on LinkedIn.
At USPS headquarters in Washington, D.C., visitors can view a historic display of postal vehicles — from 1900s wagons to electric delivery vans under the agency’s current modernization plan, Delivering for America.
What’s Next
USPS is continuing a $40 billion investment in infrastructure, vehicle modernization, and package-processing capacity. The ongoing transformation aims to improve on-time delivery, optimize logistics, and secure financial sustainability for the future — all while maintaining its role as an essential public service.
The public is invited to participate in the ongoing stamp reissue vote at StampsForever.com/vote, open through September 30, 2025.
The Bottom Line
From the days of Benjamin Franklin to the age of AI-powered mail sorters, the USPS remains a uniquely American institution. As it enters its 251st year, it continues to deliver — both literally and symbolically — the promise of connection across distance, time, and generations.
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