| National Postal Museum

July 6, 1894

A.C. Banta begins a private post in California utilizing bicycles during a local mail emergency resulting from a railway strike. The service was in operation until July 18. One envelope mailed through that service is in the museum's collections.

July 5, 1884

“Official stamps" are declared obsolete after free franking is reestablished earlier that year.

1-dollar stamp with illustration of David G. Farragut

July 5, 1801

Admiral David Farragut is born in Tennessee. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1903.

5-dollar stamp with illustration of Calvin Coolidge

July 4, 1872

Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the US, is born in Plymouth, Vermont. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1938.

5-cent stamp featuring an illustration of Walt Whitman

July 4, 1855

The first edition of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" is published. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1940.

July 4, 1831

James Monroe, 5th President of the US, dies in New York City. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1938.

5-cent stamp featuring an illustration of Thomas Jefferson

July 4, 1826

Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the US, dies at Monticello. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1856.

July 4, 1826

John Adams, second President of the US, dies in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1938.

July 31, 1875

Andrew Johnson, 17th President of the US, dies in Carter's Station, Tennessee. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1938.

photo of a front entrance of the museum building

July 30, 1993

The National Postal Museum opens. Prior to opening, the Smithsonian's philatelic and postal history collection had been displayed for over 25 years at the National Museum of American History.

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