You've Got Mail...

The United States Postal Service's first incarnation was established by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia in 1775. Since then it has grown and changed with America, boldly embracing new technologies to better serve a growing population.

1775 - Benjamin Franklin appointed first Postmaster General

1847 - U.S. postage stamps issued

1855 - Prepayment of postage required

1860 - Pony Express began

1863 - Free city delivery began

1873 - U.S. postal cards issued

1893 - First commemorative stamps issued

1896 - Rural free delivery began

1913 - Parcel Post began

1918 - Scheduled airmail service began

1950 - Residential deliveries reduced to one a day

1963 - ZIP Code inaugurated

1970 - Express Mail began experimentally

1971 - United States Postal Service began operations

1974 - Self-adhesive stamps tested

1983 - ZIP+4 Code began

1992 - Self-adhesive stamps introduced nationwide

1993 - National Postal Museum opened

1994 - Postal Service launched public Internet site

2007 - “Forever” stamp issued

2008 - Competitive pricing for expedited mail began