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in , 1792, signed the Postal Service Act into law. In so doing, the and established the Post Office Department—what Alexis de Tocqueville called, the ’ “great link between minds.”

In 1753, became the colonies’ Postmaster General after years as a printer. For two decades thereafter, he successfully shortened delivery times by establishing more efficient delivery routes and having mail carriers ride day and night. However, the British removed him from his post in 1774; punishment for leaking the governor’s letters revealing his support for repressive measures against the revolting colonists.

On the eve of revolution, underground postal networks began to form, enabling colonists to correspond secretly—and illicitly. But after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Continental Congress sought a more secure and independent system to relay intelligence. It thus turned the underground Constitutional Post into an official post office—with Franklin as Postmaster General.

By 1789, the was firmly established and the , now in effect, empowered Congress to establish a post office under its control. The Department’s creation made the service self-financed and incentivized newspapers to be shared through mail to promote civic engagement—necessary for our to flourish. Today, the mission has changed, but the stakes have not. As the entrance of the National Postal Museum reads:

MESSENGER OF SYMPATHY AND LOVE
SERVANT OF PARTED FRIENDS
CONSOLER OF THE LONELY
BOND OF THE SCATTERED FAMILY
ENLARGER OF THE COMMON LIFE

Photo: 2006 stamp recognizing Franklin’s 300th birthday

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Jan 6, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026
8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday, 10 AM - 5 PM Saturdays & Holidays, 1 - 5 PM Sundays
Signers of the Declaration of Independence State Capitol Exhibit

Nebraska Semiquincentennial Commission
Nebraska State Capitol Building
1445 K Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509

Governor Jim Pillen invites you to step into history like never before when visiting the Nebraska State Capitol building.

Adopted from the White House Founders Museum, watch America's Founding Fathers, Ladies of the Revolution and Major Events that paved the way for Independence come to life. Portraits of the original 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, six Influential Women and Major Events will be on display on the First Floor.

This interactive exhibit includes QR codes which allow visitors to watch the person's story and learn of the events that shaped the Revolution on a smart device.

in , 1782, the House of Commons voted to end 's war in . A week later, authorized King George III to negotiate the terms of . It was a stunning concession. But one which reaffirmed a lesson still relevant today: winning a war is as much about the hearts and minds of citizens as it is might.

Not every Englishman was naive as to how difficult containing the rebellion would be. “To conquer a great continent of 1,800 miles, containing three millions of people,” a Member of Parliament conceded, “seems an undertaking not to be rashly engaged in.” Nevertheless, Britain’s leadership assumed that most Americans were loyal to The Crown. And, in any event, the had the most powerful military in the world.

It was for this latter reality that came to a grudging understanding: his job as commander of the was not so much to win, but to keep his forces intact, so as not to lose. He therefore utilized a defensive strategy that prolonged the war by never risking his entire army in one battle.

“You can not conquer America,” an English nobleman explicated. “If I were an American…while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I would never lay down my arms—never, never, never!” Thus, after each passing year of war, the ’s resolve for independence grew. All the while, the British fell deeper into a quagmire they couldn’t climb out of. Both Parliament and their constituents were now wary of a conflict that was costing far too much money—and far too many lives.

By October 1781, the and had successfully executed the siege of , forcing the British to surrender in the last major battle of the . Before the surrender, British General, Sir Henry Clinton, wrote that if Cornwallis' army was defeated, King George III would “have little hope of seeing a British dominion re-established in America, as our country cannot replace that army.”

Thus, once word of the defeat reached , Prime Minister Lord North uttered, “Oh God. It is all over.” On the contrary, for the United States, it was just the beginning.

Photo: Parliament caught in a rainstom

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Jan 9, 2026 - Jan 24, 2027
Friday and Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 1-4pm
Colorado in Miniature: A Dollhouse Miniatures Exhibit

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys
830 Kipling St
Lakewood, Colorado 80215

Explore Colorado in Miniature at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys. Tour artisan dollhouses inspired by Colorado and the work of Colorado artists.

On This Day – April 15, 1776
The Final Push Begins

On April 15, 1776… the final push began.

Momentum had built.

The decision was approaching.

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As we count down to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, we’ll bring you a new moment each day that shaped the nation.

in , 1789, the sun rose on for the first time under our new . When the First Congress began its important work of building a nation, it did so, reflected, “in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us.” And yet, the People’s representatives went on to achieve the most consequential legislative term in .

In many respects, the First was tasked with finishing the work of the Constitutional Convention. Most consequentially, it passed the . Two years prior, the Convention hadn’t done so, in part, because some Framers believed that guaranteeing certain rights, but not others, would make it easier to trample on those not explicitly protected. But for the Constitution to be ratified, states needed assurance that a Bill of Rights would be passed by the First Congress. It thus did so, Madison explained, to “satisfy the public mind that their liberties will be perpetual.”

The First Congress also passed the Judiciary Act, which established the lower courts of the Judicial Branch, as well as the Office of the Attorney General. Article III of the Constitution outlines the Judicial Branch, but it does not explicate its exact organization or the powers of the . Congress therefore believed it significant that it specify those powers into law. In so doing, Congress installed a system that’s remained largely untouched for 237 years.

Finally, the First Congress created the Departments of State, War, and Treasury; counted and certified the results of the presidential election; and passed the Resident Act, making land near the Potomac River — what became — the permanent capital.

John Trumbull therefore concluded: “In no nation, by no Legislature, was ever so much done in so short a period for the establishment of Government, Order, public Credit & general tranquility.”

Picture: Mural of the First Congress in the Capitol Building (Credit: Architect of the Capitol)

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Ongoing
Racing at the Dawn of the United States

National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame
191 Union Avenue
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding with the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is marking the occasion with an exhibit that explores the history of thoroughbred horse racing from the American colonial period to the emergence of the United States as a new republic in the early nineteenth century.

The exhibition invites visitors to learn about the early history of the sport, highlighting key figures, races, and horses of the time. It features selections from the Museum’s collection and is enhanced with loans from Keeneland Library, the New York Racing Association, Cate Masterson, and Charles V. Wait.

Adult (18-64): $20; Senior (65+): $15; Student (6-18/College with ID): $10; Child (5 and under): Free; Museum Member: Free

On This Day – April 14, 1776
Debate Continues

On April 14, 1776… not everyone agreed.

Independence was still debated.

The decision wasn’t easy.

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As we count down to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, we’ll bring you a new moment each day that shaped the nation.

in , 1770, five Americans were fatally wounded in the Boston Massacre. It was the “first act in the drama of the Revolution,” believed. For “on that night, the foundation of Independence was laid.”

When Britain imposed the Townshend duties, it led to a cannonade of protests, but no more so than in . The British therefore sent troops to occupy to enforce the duties. But their presence elicited a deep resentment; and after a loyalist inadvertently killed a young boy, Bostonians spent a week clashing with troops.

This culminated in tragedy when a group of colonists gathered near the Custom House and began taunting the sentry on duty. Soon, hundreds of others entered the square, including eight more soldiers, who were berated with slurs and insults, and pelted with snowballs, rocks, ice, and oyster shells. Finally, the soldiers fired.

From there, accounts differ. The Boston Gazette sensationalized: with “snow balls coming,” the captain yelled “damn you, fire, be the consequence what it will!” It was this depiction that Paul Revere quickly capitalized on, producing the viral engraving that etched into the American mind—both then and still today—the “Bloody Massacre.”

Yet Adams, ever the idealist, took the soldiers’ case—the only attorney who would do so. In court, he admonished the “mob” for shouting “Kill them! Knock them over!” while they threw clubs and sticks at the soldiers. “Facts,” he reminded the jury, “are stubborn things.” As a result, no soldier was found guilty of murder. “This however,” Adams reflected, “is no Reason why the Town should not call the Action of that Night a Massacre.”

Americans agreed, as the bloodshed became a rallying cry. If the British could kill their kin in , what colony—or liberty—was next?

Pictures: Revere's engraving; Old State House that overlooked the tragedy