US Post Office-Miles City Main
a.k.a. Miles City Main Post Office
106 N. Seventh St., Miles City, MT Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
1775: The Second Continental Congress establishes the Constitutional Post to provide postal services in the thirteen American colonies. Benjamin Franklin is appointed as the first Postmaster General.
1792: The Postal Service Act is passed, officially establishing the United States Postal Service as a federal agency. It sets the foundation for the organization and regulation of postal operations.
1847: The introduction of prepaid adhesive postage stamps revolutionizes mail delivery, simplifying the process and promoting efficiency.
1860: The Pony Express, a fast mail delivery service, is launched to transport mail between the eastern and western regions of the United States. It becomes famous for its daring riders and swift delivery.
1863: Free city delivery is introduced, allowing mail to be delivered directly to urban households and businesses rather than being picked up from local post offices.
1864: The Postal Money Order system is established, providing a secure way for people to send money through the mail.
1896: Rural Free Delivery (RFD) is implemented, bringing mail delivery to rural areas for the first time. This service significantly improves communication and connects rural communities to the rest of the country.
1971: The United States Postal Service is reorganized as an independent agency within the federal government, operating as the USPS. It is no longer directly controlled by the Postmaster General.
1974: The USPS introduces the ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) Code system, which assigns unique codes to geographic areas to improve mail sorting and delivery efficiency.
1997: The USPS launches its website, usps.com, providing online access to postal services, tracking, and information.
2001: Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the USPS faces security challenges and undergoes significant changes to enhance mail screening and protection.
2013: The USPS announces the end of Saturday mail delivery for regular letters and reduces delivery to five days a week.
Present: The USPS continues to be a vital service, handling billions of pieces of mail annually and adapting to changes in technology, communication, and the shipping industry. It plays a crucial role in connecting people, facilitating commerce, and serving as a backbone of the American communication infrastructure.
This timeline provides an overview of key milestones in the history of the USPS, which has played a crucial role in facilitating communication and connecting communities throughout the United States for over two centuries.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The state of Montana has a rich Native American history, with several tribes, including the Blackfeet, Crow, Salish, and Kootenai, having lived in the region for thousands of years. Many Native American traditions and customs are still practiced in Montana today, including powwows and traditional beadwork.
The arrival of European explorers and fur traders in the early 19th century brought significant changes to the area. The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through the region in 1806, exploring the Yellowstone River and encountering Native American tribes along the way. In the following decades, trappers and traders established fur trading posts, such as Fort Parker and Fort Buford, further developing the area.
The discovery of gold in the mid-1860s brought a wave of settlers to Custer County. The town of Miles City became an important hub for gold prospectors, and the area experienced a rapid increase in population. The gold rush also led to conflicts with the Native American tribes, resulting in several clashes, most notably the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Custer County evolved into an agricultural and ranching region. The wide open plains and fertile soil made it ideal for cattle ranching and farming. The establishment of the Milwaukee Road railroad in the early 1900s further stimulated the local economy, providing transportation for goods and people.
Today, Custer County remains an important agricultural area, known for its cattle ranching and wheat farming. The county also attracts visitors with its natural beauty, including the nearby Yellowstone River and the iconic Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, where the Battle of Little Bighorn took place.
Custer County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Custer County, Montana.
- 1865: Custer County was established by the Montana Territorial Legislature.
- 1874: Gold was discovered in the area, leading to a rush of settlers.
- 1876: General George Armstrong Custer and his troops were killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn, which took place in the eastern part of present-day Custer County.
- 1881: The first courthouse was built in Miles City, which became the county seat.
- 1916: The county fairgrounds were established in Miles City.
- 1943: The first oil well was drilled in Custer County, leading to the development of the oil industry in the area.
- 1962: The Tongue River Dam was completed, creating Tongue River Reservoir.
- 1976: The Custer Battlefield Museum was opened near the site of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
- 2007: The Custer County Art and Heritage Center was established in Miles City to preserve and showcase local art and history.