The U.S. Post Service will recognize the Missouri bicentennial with a commemorative stamp later this year.
Gov. Mike Parson shared the design earlier this week, “The Missouri Times” reported. It depicts a photograph of Bollinger Mill State Historic Site taken by landscape photographer Charles Gurche. The historic site, located near Cape Girardeau, is a state-owned property preserving a mill and a covered bridge predating the Civil War. The park opened in 1967 and offers picnic areas and tours of the mill. It bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The original owner of the site, George Frederick Bollinger, received the property as a land grant from the Spanish government. Bollinger later was elected to serve as a senator in Missouri’s first General Assembly.
READ: Events planned to celebrate Missouri bicentennial
“The new 2021 stamps are designed to look beautiful on your envelopes, to be educational and to appeal to collectors and pen pals around the world,” said William Gicker, U.S. Postal Service stamp services director. “As always, the program offers a variety of subjects celebrating American culture and history, and this year, we made a special effort to include a little fun.”
The state is gearing up for its bicentennial celebration, with several initiatives and events under way to recognize the milestone. The attorney general’s office launched a celebratory campaign on social media this year, presenting historical videos and graphics in addition to the new Attorney General Honors Initiative award.
The Bicentennial Bridge will provide a pedestrian and bike path from the Capitol to Adrian’s Island, an area along the Missouri River. The bridge will connect to a 30-acre parkland north of the Union Pacific Railroad. The project broke ground last summer after decades of planning and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.
Missouri was officially incorporated as the 24th state in the union on Aug. 10, 1821. More information about bicentennial activities is available at www.missouri2021.org.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice