This Day In History

Today, July 26th

Recent stories…

#787 - 1937 3c Army and Navy: Sherman, Grant and Sheridan
July 25, 1866

General of the Army Rank Created for Ulysses S. Grant 

Ulysses S. Grant became a household name and was considered a hero following his leadership during the Civil War. In recognition of this, Congress created an entirely new rank for him on July 25, 1866 – the four-star General of the Army of the United States.

Read Article
2008 Gibraltar Machu Picchu
July 24, 1911

Exploration of Machu Picchu

On July 24, 1911, Hiram Bingham became one of the first Americans to explore the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. Relatively unknown to the outside world at the time, his expedition brought it international attention, changing our understanding of ancient civilizations in South America.

Read Article
#C70 - 1967 8c Alaska Purchase
July 23, 1867

US Opens First Post Office in Alaska

On July 23, 1867, the United States opened its first post office in Alaska— months before the US formally took possession of the territory.  While Alaska’s official transfer was still being prepared, the US was already laying down its presence—and the post office was a powerful symbol of that.

Read Article
#3221 - 1998 32c Literary Arts: Stephen Vincent Benet
July 22, 1898

Birth of Stephen Vincent Benét

Stephen Vincent Benét was born on July 22, 1898, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, he’s best known for his historically inspired poems, short stories, and novels.

Read Article

More Space Exploration stories…

1998 $3.20 Space Shuttle Landing, Priority Mail
June 29, 1995

First US Space Shuttle Docking to Mir 

On June 29, 1995, the US Space Shuttle Atlantis docked the Russian space station Mir for the first time. The mission, STS-71, was the third in the US/Russian Shuttle-Mir program. It began on June 27, 1995, when the Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was the 100th US human space launch from Cape Canaveral.

Read Article
# 1193 - 1962 4c Project Mercury
February 20, 1962

First American Orbit of Earth 

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth aboard his Friendship 7 capsule.

Read Article
# 5077 - 2016 First-Class Forever Stamp - Pluto Explored!: Pluto
February 18, 1930

Pluto Discovered 

On February 18, 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto after nearly a year of searching. It would be another 85 years before the US sent its first space probe there – inspired by a postage stamp!

Read Article
# 1193 - 1962 4c Project Mercury
January 31, 1961

Mercury-Redstone 2

On January 31, 1961, Mercury-Redstone 2 launched Ham the Chimp into space. It was an important step in a program aimed at getting the first American in space.

Read Article

More stories from July 26th…

2005 37¢ To Form a More Perfect Union: Executive Order 9981
July 26, 1948

Executive Order 9981

On July 26, 1948, President Harry Truman signed Executive Order 9981, calling for the end of racial discrimination in the US armed forces.

Read Article
1847 5¢ Benjamin Franklin, red-brown, thin bluish wove paper, imperforate
July 26, 1775

Ben Franklin Appointed America’s First Postmaster General 

On July 26, 1775, former deputy postmaster general of the American colonies, Ben Franklin, was made the first postmaster general of the United States. He revolutionized mail service in the young nation at a crucial time in our history.

Read Article
1988 25¢ New York Bicentenary Statehood
July 26, 1788

New York Becomes 11th State to Join the Union

On July 26, 1788, New York ratified the US Constitution, becoming America’s 11th state. It has grown to be America’s fourth most populous state, with more than 20 million residents.

Read Article

Love history?

Discover events in American history – plus the stamps that make them come alive.

Subscribe to get This Day in History stories straight to your inbox every day!