1845

U.S. Postage rate set at 5 cents per half ounce for letters traveling less than 300 miles and at 10 cents per half ounce for letters traveling more than 300 miles

1847

Stamps first issued in the United States, March 3

United States enters into its first international postal treaty with the Hanseatic Republic of Bremen, reducing the cost of letters sent to continental Europe

1848

Wisconsin Statehood

1851

Rates reduced to 3 cents for single letters going not more than 3,000 miles

1854

First mail service on Wisconsin railroad lines from Milwaukee to Waukesha

1855

Prepayment of U.S. postage by postage stamps made compulsory

1861

Merchandise first admitted to the United States mail, Feb. 27

1864

First trip of an official U.S. Railroad Post Office from Chicago, IL, to Clinton, IA

1867

Establishment of first Wisconsin Railroad Post Office, the Chicago & Green Bay line

1872

One cent postcards approved by U.S. Congress

1874

International Postal Convention meeting in Bern, Switzerland sets international letter postage rate at 5 cents per half ounce

1883

Rate for U.S. domestic letter mail set at 2 cents per half ounce

1885

Rate for U.S. domestic letter mail decreased to 2 cents per ounce

International Postal Convention meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, keeps international letter postage rate at 5 cents per half ounce (prepaid only), and sets international postcard rate at 2 cents

1887

Free delivery to home address established in all cities with more than 10,000 residents

1896

Experimental Rural Free Delivery route established in Wisconsin at Sun Prairie

Machines first used to cancel postage in larger Wisconsin cities

1902

Rural Free Delivery established throughout United States