Free City Mail Delivery
On July 1, 1863, the US Post Office inaugurated its free City Mail Delivery Service in part in response to the Civil War. By the end of the first year, 65 cities offered the service and employed 685 mail carriers.
This Day in History
Yosemite Land Grant
On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Land Grant. This made Yosemite Valley the first piece of land set aside by the US government for preservation and public use.
Mesa Verde National Park
On June 29, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt established Mesa Verde National Park, the first American park created to “preserve the works of man.” It’s since been called “the best cultural attraction” in the Western United States.
Birth of Lou Nolan
Stamp and poster artist Louis James Nolan Jr. was born on June 28, 1926, in Washington, DC. During his long career, he designed several military recruiting posters and over a dozen US stamps.
Birth of Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, Ohio. He was one of the most prolific African American writers his time, despite having his life cut short by illness.
Firearms Transfer Stamps
On June 26, 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the National Firearms Act of 1934 into law. The act placed a tax on the manufacture and transfer of certain firearms, with new stamps being produced to show the tax had been paid.
Happy Birthday Henry “Hap” Arnold
General of the Air Force Henry “Hap” Arnold was born on June 25, 1886, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. He was an early supporter of military air power, and later became the Air Force’s first five-star general.
Death of Stuart Davis
One of America’s first modern artists, Stuart Davis died on June 24, 1964. Davis earned national acclaim for his proto-pop paintings that were inspired by jazz and his strong political beliefs.
Birth of Wilma Rudolph
Wilma Glodean Rudolph was born on June 23, 1940, in Saint Bethlehem, Tennessee. Dubbed “The Fastest Woman in History,” she became the first female athlete to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Games.