The Mighty Mississippi

USPS Commemorates the Mighty Mississippi

The U.S. Postal Service is commemorating the Mighty Mississippi with a series of Forever stamps.

Image: USPS

Readers of this magazine likely recognize the commercial importance of the Mississippi River; half the nation’s corn and soybeans are barged on the section above the Ohio River confluence, known as the Little Mississippi.

But not only is the Mississippi one of America’s top trade arteries—supporting a $12.6 billion shipping industry, with 35,300 related jobs—it is also one of the world’s major river systems in size, habitat diversity and biological productivity, and even provides drinking water for millions of people.

Recognizing this, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has recently issues a series of Forever stamps commemorating the mighty river.

The USPS’ stamp program celebrates the people, events and cultural milestones that are unique to the history of the United States. The Postal Service describes its stamps as “miniature works of art that highlight the American experience”. Each year the USPS receives 30,000 suggestions for stamp ideas, but only about 25-30 commemorative stamp issuances are approved annually—honoring some of the most important, significant and unique aspects of American history and culture.

“The Mississippi River is at the core of the nation’s heritage, and is variously referred to as America’s backbone, its heart and its soul,” the USPS said when announcing its Mighty Mississippi stamps series. "With relentless progress, diverse influences and determined wildness, the Mississippi River perfectly epitomizes the nation it shapes and serves."

The Mighty Mississippi stamps series includes 10 stamps, one for each state along the course of the 2,340-mile-long river: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana and of course Mississippi.

Naomi Harrison Image: USPS
Marine Technology Magazine
August 2022