The United States Postal Service is joining celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary with initiatives that highlight its historic role and invite public participation.
The Postal Service, older than the country itself, is encouraging customers to visit Post Offices that have operated continuously since 1776. Eight such stations remain open in Maryland today.
These include the Elkton Post Office at 137 W. Main St. in Elkton; the Annapolis, MD Station at 60 West Street, Suite 101 in Annapolis; the Baltimore, MD Station at 900 East Fayette Street, Room 118 in Baltimore; the Bladensburg, MD Station at 4921 Tilden Road in Bladensburg; the Charlestown, MD Station at 241 Market Street in Charlestown; the Chestertown, MD Station at 104 Spring Avenue in Chestertown; the Easton, MD Station at 116 East Dover Street in Easton; and the Upper Marlboro, MD Station at 14605 Elm Street in Upper Marlboro.
Local events at these and other historic Post Offices may include community art displays and stamp dedications. The Postal Service is also offering themed merchandise, commemorative cachets and Forever stamps tied to the anniversary.
A national postmark honoring the 250th anniversary will appear on processed mail from July to August. Special Priority Mail supplies will be available at Post Offices beginning in early July, and decorated collection boxes will be placed at 30 sites in 24 cities linked to the nation’s founding.
Several stamp issues mark the milestone. The Declaration of Independence pane of 20 stamps will have its first-day-of-issue event July 4 in Philadelphia. American Icons, curated by Ralph Lauren, was issued June 9. Other releases include Treasures of the Revolutionary Era, Bald Eagle: From Hatchling to Adult, Figures of the American Revolution, Battlefields of the American Revolution and First Continental Congress, 1774.
Southern Maryland residents can participate by visiting nearby historic Post Offices or ordering stamps and merchandise online through The Postal Store. These initiatives provide opportunities to connect with local history while celebrating the nation’s milestone.
The Postal Service continues to work with national partners on community engagement for the anniversary.
