1

The first post office? A Boston tavern

Image: Mick Haupt

In 1639, the first organized mail service in British North America started at Richard Fairbank’s tavern . The owner collected and distributed mail brought by ship.

Although informal and modest by today’s standards, this post office laid the foundation for communal mail collection and delivery.

2

Enter Benjamin Franklin

Image: Brett Wharton

From 1753, Franklin served as joint Postmaster General for the colonies and undertook a sweeping reform: he organized delivery routes, aligned them with major roads and rivers, and cut the mail travel time between Philadelphia and New York to about 33 hours .

He also introduced the first rate chart, standardizing delivery costs based on weight and distance, turning what had been a scattered courier network into a more reliable, structured mail system.

3

National Postal System founded

Image: David Trinks

With the American Revolution underway, the Second Continental Congress established the first national postal agency in 1775 , appointing Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General.

This new postal service initially handled mostly military and diplomatic correspondence, but the agency laid the groundwork for what would become a national communications service.

4

The Age of Steam: mail by steamboat

Image: mandylin

In 1813, Congress authorized the Postmaster General to contract steamboat companies to carry mail. Soon, steamboats were ferrying mail up and down the East Coast and the Mississippi River .

By 1848, mail even traveled to California via steamship and across the Isthmus of Panama, a three-week voyage.

5

Overland stagecoaches and the Butterfield Overland Mail

Image: Ricky BiggsSr

Between 1858 and 1861, the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach service carried U.S. mail across the western frontier, from eastern posts like Memphis and St. Louis to San Francisco .

This service helped connect the eastern U.S. with rapidly growing western settlements long before the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

6

Railroads enter the picture

Image: Jay Kettle-Williams

As railroads expanded, the postal service started to use this new technology: in 1832, the first mail deliveries by train were made.

Rail transport vastly improved speed and reliability compared to horse and stagecoach travel , and became a key advance as mail traffic increased and the nation expanded westward.

7

First U.S. postage stamps

Image: The New York Public Library

In 1847, the first official U.S. postage stamps were issued: a 5-cent stamp featuring none Ben Franklin and a 10-cent stamp featuring George Washington .

Prepaid stamps simplified payment and collection of postage, removing complications from pay-on-delivery systems and helping the postal system function more efficiently.

8

The Pony Express

Image: The New York Public Library

In 1860, the Pony Express started its overland mail route between Missouri and California, nearly 1800 miles of relay horseback riding . The mail took 10 days between endpoints.

Although short-lived (it ended in 1861), the Pony Express demonstrated the demand for rapid cross-country communication.

9

City-wide home delivery

Image: Lesli Whitecotton

In 1863, free city mail delivery began , allowing residents in major cities to receive letters directly at their homes rather than picking them up at a post office.

This represented a major shift: mail became a part of everyday domestic life, not just something dropped off and picked up by hand.

10

Pneumatic tube mail in NYC

Image: The New York Public Library

In 1897, a pneumatic-tube mail system began operation in New York City. Mail could travel underground at high speeds, from the General Post Office to other offices in Manhattan within minutes .

At its peak, the system carried thousands of letters daily: at one point, nearly 30% of New York City mail went through this immense underground network.

11

Parcel post service launches

Image: Olivier Rouge

On New Year’s Day 1913, the U.S. Post Office inaugurated the first official parcel post service , allowing packages, not just letters, to be sent through the mail.

The impact was immediate: within the first five days, millions of packets passed through post offices, fueling mail-order business and expanding commerce everywhere.

12

First airmail route

Image: Qihao Wang

In 1918, the postal service launched the first regularly scheduled air mail route between Washington, D.C., and New York , marking the beginning of mail carried by airplane.

Airplane mail allowed far faster coast-to-coast and long-distance communication, a major leap from sailboats, stagecoaches, or railroads.

1

Double title

Image: Tingey Injury Law Firm

Holding an important office is a tremendous honor, but it can also be a stressful experience, right? Well, imagine not only serving as the President of the United States but also becoming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court! There has only been one person in the entire history of our country who has held both positions.

We are talking about William H. Taft, who was elected as Theodore Roosevelt's successor and served as President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. But another achievement awaited him a couple of years later: he served as Chief Justice from 1921 to 1930, appointed by President Warren G. Harding.

2

Bill cover

Image: Kenny Eliason

Being featured on the front of a banknote is an honor that only a few have received. Today, we can see Presidents, Founding Fathers, and other important figures from our national history on our banknotes and coins. But did you know that U.S. paper money has also featured Supreme Court Justices?

Yes, that's right! Only two Justices of the Court have had their faces on U.S. bills: John Marshall, whose picture appeared on an early version of the $500 bill, and Salmon P. Chase, who was featured on the $10,000 bill. Today, those bills are no longer in circulation.

3

Wig: yes or no?

Image: J. Amill Santiago

Towards the end of the 18th century, some judges still kept the tradition of wearing the classic white wigs. During the first session of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1790, only one Justice showed up wearing a wig: William Cushing.

Apparently, his fashion choice was not well received. In fact, one story has it that Thomas Jefferson saw him and allegedly said, "For heaven's sake, discard the monstrous wig!" Thus, Jefferson demonstrated his willingness to distance himself from certain European customs.

4

Justice and sportsman

Image: Melissa McGovern

Serving as a Supreme Court Justice is not a job for everyone, nor is being a distinguished sportsman. Surprisingly, there was one man who did both.

Justice Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White, born in Colorado in 1917, was a lawyer, jurist, professional football player, and Supreme Court Justice. Quite a resume, huh?

White became an NFL player in 1938, but his sports career ended in 1940 due to some injuries while playing for the Detroit Lions. A couple of years later, he decided to pursue a law career, and in 1962, he became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court after being nominated by none other than John F. Kennedy.

5

Better late than never

Image: Tim Mossholder

The U.S. Supreme Court didn't have its own fully functional building until 1935. That means the Justices operated in different locations for 145 years!

The first session of the Court, in 1790, was held in New York City at the Royal Exchange Building. Later, the Court met in Philadelphia's Independence Hall until 1800, when it finally moved to Washington, D.C. However, the capital city at that time didn't have a designated building for the Highest Court, so its members met in different spaces within the Capitol Building, even in the basement!

In the early 1930s, construction on the current Supreme Court building finally began.

6

The Highest

Image: Edgar Chaparro

When someone says "The Highest Court of the Land," they're clearly referring to the Supreme Court. However, it seems there's another "Highest Court" that many of us haven't heard of before.

Located on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court building, you can find another court: a basketball court. Since it's literally on the highest floor, the Justices playfully call it "The Highest Court of the Land." Working is important, but so is exercising!

7

Many appointees

Image: Ben Noble

Among their many other tasks and duties, U.S. presidents are also responsible for nominating justices to the Supreme Court. These nominees must then undergo the Senate confirmation process before they officially become justices.

Throughout U.S. history, some presidents have appointed more justices than others. Want to know who appointed the most? That was George Washington, with a total of 11 justices! The second place goes to Franklin D. Roosevelt, with 9 justices during his time in office. In third place, though a bit further back, is Andrew Jackson, who appointed 6 justices to the Supreme Court.

8

The youngest

Image: Bermix Studio

Among the many names that have served on the Supreme Court, some have stood out for different reasons. That is the case of Joseph Story, who was officially the Court's youngest appointee, nominated by President James Madison in 1811. How old was he? Just 32! Despite his young age, Story served as a justice for 34 years and contributed to our country's justice in many ways.

Most Supreme Court justices reach their positions with a lot of experience, often between the ages of 50 and 55, around 20 years older than the young Story.

9

A long-standing tradition

Image: Constantin Wenning

Have you heard of the famous "conference handshake"? This tradition has been part of the Supreme Court for many, many years. Do you want to know its origin and what it is all about?

The conference handshake is a long-standing practice where the justices of the Court literally shake hands with each other before taking their seats.

This custom originated at the end of the 19th century, and one of its promoters was Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller. From its beginnings, the greeting was intended to demonstrate that, while they may have differences, the justices must ensure harmony and respect above everything else.

10

Quill pens

Image: Pierre Bamin

The black robes and the handshakes are not the only traditions at the Supreme Court. There is another longstanding custom that continues to this day.

Whenever an attorney presents an oral argument before the Supreme Court for the first time, they are gifted a fancy quill pen. That's a nice and thoughtful gesture, don't you think?

This gift symbolizes the importance of their role and their responsibilities. Many choose to keep the quill pen as a souvenir that reminds them of a crucial step in their careers.

1

Ragtime - Scott Joplin

Image: Darius

The first entry on the list showcases the inventor of probably the most popular waiting-call tunes in history, Scott Joplin, the "King of Ragtime" himself. He composed over 40 ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first and most popular pieces, the "Maple Leaf Rag," became the genre's first and most influential hit, later recognized as the quintessential rag.

Joplin considered ragtime to be a form of classical music meant to be played in concert halls and largely disdained the performance of ragtime as honky-tonk music, most common in saloons.

2

Blues - W.C. Handy

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Blues music can’t be traced to a single individual, but William Christopher Handy can definitely be identified as a founding figure in the genre. He was an American composer and musician who referred to himself as the "Father of the Blues."

One of many musicians who played the blues, Handy did not create the blues genre but was one of the first to publish music in the blues form , thereby taking the blues from a regional music style (Delta blues) with a limited audience to a new level of popularity.

3

Jazz - Buddy Bolden

Image: Laura Rivera

Charles Joseph "Buddy" Bolden was an American cornetist who was regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of "jass," which later came to be known as jazz. Bolden was known as "King" Bolden, and he was known for his loud sound and improvisational skills, and his style had an impact on younger musicians.

Many early jazz musicians credited Bolden and his bandmates with having originated what came to be known as jazz , although the term was not in common musical use until after Bolden was musically active. At least one writer has labeled Bolden as the father of jazz.

4

Country - Jimmie Rodgers

Image: Katherine Hanlon

Widely regarded as the "Father of Country Music," James Charles Rodgers was an American singer-songwriter and musician who rose to popularity in the late 1920s. He is best known for his distinctive yodeling , which is a singing style imported from the Alps.

He has been cited as an inspiration by many artists and he has been inducted into multiple halls of fame. By 1927, he stopped working for the railroad due to health issues and decided to focus on his music career.

5

Soul - Sam Cooke

Image: Mick Haupt

Considered one of the most influential soul artists of all time, Sam Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distinctive vocals, pioneering contributions to the genre, and significance in popular music.

During his brief eight-year career, Cooke released 29 singles that charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Pop Singles chart, along with 20 singles in the Top Ten of Billboard's Black Singles chart.

6

Rhythm & Blues - Louis Jordan

Image: Austin Neill

Known as "the King of the Jukebox," Louis Thomas Jordan was an American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader who was popular from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.

Jordan blueprinted the map of classic R&B, urban blues , and early rock-and-roll genres with a series of highly influential 78-rpm discs released by Decca Records. These recordings presaged many styles of Black popular music in the late 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s and exerted a strong influence on numerous leading performers in these genres.

7

Rock n Roll - Chuck Berry

Image: Provincial Archives of Alberta

Best known as "Chuck," Charles Edward Anderson Berry was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll music. Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll," he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive , writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism and developing a musical style that included guitar solos and showmanship.

He recorded "Maybellene"—Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red"—which sold over a million copies and reached number one on Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues chart.

8

Funk - James Brown

Image: iggii

"The Hardest-Working Man in Show Business," "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk," "Godfather of Soul," "Mr. Dynamite," and "Soul Brother No. 1," Mr. James Brown himself, was an American singer, dancer, and musician and the founder of funk music , as well as a major figure in 20th-century music.

In a career that lasted more than 50 years, he influenced the development of several music genres. Brown was one of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 23, 1986. His music has been heavily sampled by hip-hop musicians and other artists.

9

Disco - Donna Summer

Image: Bas Peperzak

Disco music was becoming increasingly popular in the early 1970s, but according to many historians, it was Donna Summer’s "Love to Love You Baby" that became the first "official" disco release .

The song did not have an immediate American release; it started its life with moderate success in Europe before finally gaining traction and being launched in the U.S., where it became her first number-one hit on the Hot Dance Club Play Chart.

10

Rap - DJ Kool Herc

Image: Matthew Moloney

While this name might not be as instantly recognizable as those from the previous entries, it certainly deserves to appear and close the list, as it is often cited as responsible for the birth of an extremely popular music genre. Clive Campbell, better known by his stage name DJ Kool Herc , is a Jamaican American DJ credited with being one of the f ounders of rap music in New York City in 1973.

Nicknamed the "Father of Hip-Hop," Campbell began playing hard funk records typified by James Brown. He isolated the instrumental portions of the records, emphasizing the drum beat—the "break"—and transitioned from one break to another. Campbell's announcements helped lead to the syncopated, rhythmically spoken accompaniment now known as rapping.