More than simply places to buy tickets and wait for a train, railroadstations exude history, romance, and the optimism associated withforward motion. Noteworthy railroad stations began brightening theAmerican landscape by the 1870s and, although many fell to thewrecking ball once they had outlived their original purpose, hundredssurvived. This issuance features five architectural gems that continue toplay an important role in their community.
Each stamp in the pane of 20 is an illustration of a single station: the1874 Tamaqua Station in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania: the 1875 Point ofRocks Station in Point of Rocks, Maryland; the 1901 Main Street Stationin Richmond, Virginia, the 1918 Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino,California; or the 1933 Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio. The paneresembles a page in an old-fashioned photo album, with the title"Historic Railroad Stations of the United States” and drawings of a trainand a one-ride ticket in the header.
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, railroads were the onlypractical means of traveling over any significant distances in the UnitedStates. The first purpose-built station buildings went up in the early1830s, and by the 1870s, noteworthy stations were starting to brightenthe landscape. A station often was designed to advertise the importanceof the surrounding community, along with the power and prestige of therailroad company serving it. In many smaller towns, the railroad stationwas the focal point of the community's life, and the local agent was oneof its more important citizens.
Derry Noyes was the art director for the project. Down the StreetDesigns was responsible for the digital illustrations, typography, andoverall design of the pane.
The Railroad Stations stamps are being issued as Forever@ stamps.These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail@ one-ounce rate.
Made in the USA.
SKUs featured on this page: 483904