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Territories of the United States on stamps facts for kids

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Louisiana Purchase7 1903 Issue-10c-crop
First U.S. stamp to commemorate a territory
and depict a map. Issue of 1904

This article explores how different parts of the United States have been celebrated on postage stamps. These stamps show lands that became part of the U.S. through agreements, purchases, or after wars. Many states were formed from these lands. In fact, 31 states grew out of U.S. territories!

We'll look at stamps issued before 1978, as newer stamp images are protected by copyright. These stamps tell stories of how the U.S. grew, how people settled new areas, and how explorers discovered new places.

How the U.S. Grew: Changing Borders

The United States expanded its borders in many ways. Stamps help us remember these important moments in history.

Early Land Deals: Treaty of Paris

After the American Revolutionary War, Great Britain gave a lot of land to the U.S. in the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This land became known as the Northwest Territory and the Southwest Territory.

  • Northwest Territory Stamp: A 3-cent stamp was released in 1937 to celebrate 150 years of the Northwest Territory. This area was north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. The stamp shows a map of the territory. It also features Manasseh Cutler and Rufus Putnam, who were important in setting up this new land. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which created this territory, also said that slavery was not allowed there.
  • Mississippi Territory Stamp: In 1948, a 3-cent stamp marked 150 years of the Mississippi Territory. This stamp shows a map of what is now Mississippi and Alabama. It highlights how the territory grew over time. The stamp also features Winthrop Sargent, the first governor of the Mississippi Territory.
  • Ordinance2 of 1787

    Ordinance of 1787
    1937 issue

  • Mississippi Territory 1948 Issue-3c

    Mississippi Territory
    1948 issue

Big Expansions: Manifest Destiny

The idea of "Manifest Destiny" was that the U.S. was meant to expand across North America. This led to many new territories joining the country.

  • Louisiana Purchase Stamps: The first big expansion happened in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase. The U.S. bought this huge area from France. President Thomas Jefferson was key to this deal. A 1904 stamp shows his portrait. Another 1904 stamp features a map of the Louisiana Purchase area. In 1953, a stamp showed James Monroe, Robert R. Livingston, and François Barbé-Marbois signing the treaty.
  • Thomas Jefferson 1904 Issue-4c

    Thomas Jefferson
    1904 issue

  • Louisiana Purchase7 1903 Issue-10c-crop

    Louisiana Purchase map
    1904 issue

  • Louisiana Purchase 150th anniversary 3c 1953 issue

    Louisiana Purchase Treaty signing
    1953 issue

  • Florida and Texas Stamps:
    • Florida Territory: In 1945, a 3-cent stamp celebrated 100 years of Florida becoming a state. It showed a map of the 1822 Florida Territory.
    • Texas: Texas joined the U.S. in 1845. A 3-cent stamp in 1945 marked 100 years of Texas statehood. Texas had been its own republic after fighting for independence from Mexico. The decision to add Texas as a slave state led to the Mexican-American War.
  • Florida statehood centenary 1945 U.S. stamp.1

    Florida Territory
    1945 issue

  • The Alamo 1936 Issue-3c

    Texas independence
    1936 issue

  • Texas Statehood 1945 Issue-3c

    Texas statehood
    1945 issue

  • Mexican-American War and Land Acquisitions: The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) led to the U.S. gaining even more land.
    • Kearny Expedition: A 3-cent stamp in 1946 honored the 100th anniversary of Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny's journey through New Mexico during the war. He helped establish American rule there.
    • Mexican Cession: After the war, the Mexican Cession gave the U.S. a vast area stretching west to the Pacific Ocean. A 1937 stamp shows General Winfield Scott, a hero of this war.
  • Kearny Expedition 1946 U.S. stampf

    Kearny Expedition
    1946 issue

  • Jackson Scott 1937 Issue-2c

    Winfield Scott (r.), the Mexican War
    1937 issue

  • Oregon and Gadsden Purchase Stamps:
    • Oregon Treaty: The U.S. and Great Britain settled their dispute over the Oregon Territory in 1846. A 3-cent stamp in 1936 celebrated 100 years of the Oregon Territory. It showed a map of the area, which included present-day Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.
    • Gadsden Purchase: In 1953, a 3-cent stamp marked 100 years since the U.S. bought the Gadsden Purchase from Mexico. This land became parts of Arizona and New Mexico. With this purchase, the main 48 states of the U.S. were complete!
  • Oregon Territory 1936 U.S. stamp.1

    Oregon Territory 1836
    1936 issue

  • Gadsden Purchase 1953 U.S. stampf

    Gadsden Purchase
    1953 issue

  • Alaska Purchase Stamps: The Alaska Purchase in 1867 was a huge deal. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia for $8 million.
    • Early Alaska Stamp: A 1909 stamp celebrated the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. It honored the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush and 40 years since the Alaska Purchase. It features William H. Seward, who arranged the purchase. People first called it "Seward's Folly" (Seward's foolish act), but later realized how important it was.
    • Alaska Airmail Stamp: A 1967 airmail stamp also commemorated the Alaska Purchase.
  • Alaska purchase 1909 U.S. stamp.1

    Alaska Purchase
    1909 issue

  • Alaska Purchase 8c 1967 issue

    Alaska Purchase
    1967 Airmail issue

Island Territories: Insular Territories

The U.S. also acquired several island territories. The Postal Department issued stamps for Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1937.

  • Hawaii and Alaska Stamps (1937):
    • Hawaii: The stamp for Hawaii showed a statue of King Kamehameha I, who united the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898.
    • Alaska: The stamp for Alaska featured Mount McKinley (now Denali), with a farm and village. Both Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959.
  • Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Stamps (1937):
    • Puerto Rico: This stamp showed 'La Fortaleza', a Spanish Governor's Palace. Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory after the Spanish-American War in 1898.
    • U.S. Virgin Islands: This stamp displayed a view of Charlotte Amalie, the capital city. The U.S. bought these islands from Denmark in 1917.
  • Overprinted Stamps: Sometimes, the U.S. Postal Department used regular U.S. stamps but printed the territory's name over them, like "PUERTO RICO," "CUBA," "GUAM," "PHILIPPINES," or "CANAL ZONE." Cuba and the Philippines later became independent countries. The Canal Zone was returned to Panama.
  • 1899USProvisional-2centavos

    Cuba overprint
    1899 issue

  • Stamp 1899 10c USopGUAM

    Guam overprint
    1899 issue

  • PhilippineStamp-1899-$2

    Philippines overprint
    1903 issue

  • PuertoRico-Stamp-1899-PostageDue

    Puerto Rico overprint
    1899 issue

  • 1925 Canal Zone Stamp

    Canal Zone overprint
    1925 issue

  • Panama Canal Stamps: The Panama Canal was a huge engineering project. It has been featured on many U.S. stamps. The Canal Zone was eventually returned to Panama.
    • Pedro Miguel Locks: A 1913 stamp showed the Pedro Miguel Locks, part of the Panama Canal.
    • Gaillard Cut: A 1939 stamp celebrated 25 years since the canal opened. It showed a steamship going through the Gaillard Cut. It also featured President Theodore Roosevelt, who pushed for the canal, and General George W. Goethals, the chief engineer.
  • 2-cent Pana-Paci Expo 1913 U.S. stamp.1

    Pedro Miguel Locks, Panama Canal
    1913 issue

  • Panama Canal 25th 1939 U.S. stamp.1

    Galliard Cut, Panama Canal
    1939 issue

  • Roosevelt Canal Zone111

    Canal Zone postage
    1958 issue

Settling the Land: Filling in the Map

Stamps also tell the story of how people settled different parts of the U.S.

Settling the East

Many early settlements were along the East Coast.

  • Jamestown Settlement: In 1907, a 2-cent stamp marked 300 years since the founding of Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. This was the first lasting British colony in America.
  • New York and Massachusetts Settlements:
    • Walloons in New York: A 1924 stamp celebrated 300 years since Walloons (Protestants from Belgium) settled in New York at Fort Orange.
    • Massachusetts Bay Colony: A 1930 stamp marked 300 years of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This colony was important for early American democracy.
    • Plymouth Pilgrims: In 1970, a 6-cent stamp celebrated 350 years since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
  • Founding of Jamestown stamp 2c 1907 issue

    Jamestown, Virginia
    1907 issue

  • Walloons landing 1924 U.S. stamp.1

    Fort Orange, New York
    1924 issue

  • Massachusettes Bay Colony stamp 2c 1930 issue

    Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1930 issue

  • Mayflower compact 1920 U.S. stamp.1

    Plymouth, Massachusetts
    1920 issue

  • Landing of Pilgrims 1970 U.S. stamp.1

    Pilgrims Landing, Massachusetts
    1970 issue

  • William Penn 1932 U.S. stamp.1

    William Penn, Pennsylvania
    1932 issue

  • James Oglethorpe 1933 U.S. stamp.1

    James Edward Oglethorpe, Georgia
    1933 issue

  • Rhode Island Tercentenary 1936 U.S. stamp.1

    Roger Williams, Rhode Island
    1936 issue

  • Other Eastern Settlements:
    • Connecticut Charter: A 1935 stamp celebrated 300 years of the Connecticut Charter of 1662.
    • New York City: In 1953, a 3-cent stamp marked 300 years since New York City was founded as New Amsterdam.
    • New Sweden: A 1938 stamp honored 300 years of the New Sweden colony in Delaware, founded by Swedes and Finns.
  • Connecticut tercentenary 1935 U.S. stamp.1

    Charter Oak, Connecticut
    1935 issue

  • NYC 300 1953 issue-3c

    New Amsterdam, New York City
    1949 issue

  • Swedish-Finnish 1938 U.S. stamp.1

    New Sweden, Delaware
    1938 issue

  • Southern Colonial Settlements:
    • Annapolis, Maryland: A 1949 stamp marked 300 years of settlement in Annapolis, Maryland.
    • Carolina Charter: In 1963, a 5-cent stamp celebrated 300 years of the Province of Carolina Charter.
    • Charlestown, South Carolina: A 1970 stamp marked 300 years since the settlement of Charlestown (Charleston).
  • Annapolis Tercentenary 3c 1949 issue

    Annapolis, Maryland
    1949 issue

  • Carolina Charter 1963 U.S. stamp.1

    Carolina Charter, Carolinas
    1963 issue

  • South Carolina 1970 U.S. stamp.1

    Charlestown, South Carolina
    1970 issue

  • Early Statehood and Settlements:
    • Vermont: A 1927 stamp celebrated Vermont's independence in 1777. Vermont was not one of the original 13 colonies but became the 14th state.
    • New Hampshire: A 1955 stamp marked 150 years since the discovery of the "Old Man of the Mountains" rock formation in New Hampshire.
    • Kentucky: A 1974 stamp celebrated 200 years since the first settlement in Kentucky at Fort Harrod.
  • Vermont independence 1927 U.S. stampf

    Vermont independence
    1927 issue

  • New Hampshire 1955 U.S. stampf

    "Old Man of the Mountain", NH
    1955 issue

  • Kentucky settlement 1974 U.S. stampf

    Fort Harrod, KY
    1974 issue

  • Northwest Territory Settlements:
    • Marietta, Ohio: A 1938 stamp celebrated 150 years of settlement in the Northwest Territory, with Marietta, Ohio, being the first permanent place.
    • Indiana Territory: A 1950 stamp marked 150 years of the Indiana Territory. It features William Henry Harrison, the first governor.
    • St. Augustine, Florida: A 1965 stamp celebrated 400 years of the San Agustín settlement. This was the first lasting European settlement in the New World.
  • Northwest Territory settlement 1938 U.S. stamp.1

    Marietta, Ohio
    1938 issue

  • Indiana Territory 3c 1950 issue

    Indiana Territory
    1950 issue

  • Florida settlement 1965 U.S. stamp.1

    St. Augustine, Florida
    1965 issue

Settling the West

After the Mississippi River, the U.S. continued to expand westward.

  • Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa Territories:
    • Kansas Territory: A 1954 stamp marked 100 years of the Kansas Territory. It shows a wheat field and pioneers.
    • Nebraska Territory: A 1954 stamp celebrated 100 years of the Nebraska Territory. It features "The Sower" statue from the Nebraska Capitol.
    • Iowa Territory: A 1938 stamp commemorated the Iowa Territory, which included parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
  • Kansas Territory centennial stamp 1954 issue

    Kansas Territory
    1954 issue

  • Nebraska territory 1954 U.S. stamp.1

    Nebraska Territory
    1954 issue

  • Iowa Territorial centennial stamp 3c 1938 issue

    Iowa Territory
    1938 issue

  • Western Forts and Pioneers:
    • Fort Snelling: A 1970 stamp marked 150 years of Fort Snelling, Minnesota, which helped open the Northwest.
    • Swedish Pioneers: A 1948 stamp celebrated 100 years of Swedish pioneers settling the American Midwest, including the Wisconsin Territory.
    • Fort Kearny: A 1948 stamp marked 100 years of Fort Kearny, Nebraska, which helped speed up settlement in the Nebraska Territory.
  • Fort Snelling 1970 U.S. stamp.1

    Fort Snelling, Minnesota
    1970 issue

  • Swedish pioneer (Midwest) 1948 U.S. stamp.1

    Swedish pioneer, Wisconsin Territory
    1948 issue

  • Fort Kearny (Nebraska) 1948 U.S. stamp.1

    Ft. Kearny, Nebraska territory
    1948 issue

  • Oklahoma and Minnesota Territories:
    • Cherokee Strip: A 1968 stamp marked 75 years since the "Cherokee Strip" land rush in the Oklahoma Territory.
    • Five Civilized Tribes: A 1948 stamp honored 100 years of settlement by Native Americans of the Five Civilized Tribes in Oklahoma. This stamp recognized their progress after the difficult "Trail of Tears" journey.
    • Minnesota Territory: A 1949 stamp marked 100 years of the Minnesota Territory. It shows a pioneer and a Red River ox cart, used by fur traders.
  • Indian centennial (Oklahoma) 1948 U.S. stamp.1

    Five Civilized Nations, Oklahoma Terr.
    1948 issue

  • Cherokee strip 1968 U.S. stamp.1

    Cherokee Strip, Oklahoma
    1968 issue

  • Minnesota Territory 3c green 1949 issue

    Minnesota Territory
    1949 issue

  • Oregon, Utah, and Washington Territories:
    • Oregon Territory: A 1948 stamp celebrated 100 years of the Oregon Territory. It shows a wagon on the Oregon Trail and important figures like John McLoughlin and Jason Lee.
    • Utah Territory: A 1947 stamp shows settlers entering the Great Salt Lake valley. Mormons, led by Brigham Young, began settling here after the U.S. gained the land in the Mexican-American War.
    • Washington Territory: A 1953 stamp marked 100 years of the Washington Territory. It shows a pioneer family looking over the land.
  • Oregon Territory Centennial 3c 1948 issue

    Oregon Territory 1848
    1948 issue

  • Utah territory 1947 U.S. stamp.1

    Utah territory
    1947 issue

  • Washington Territory 3c 1953 issue

    Washington Territory
    1953 issue

  • California and Nevada Settlements:
    • San Francisco Bay: A 1913 stamp depicted the Spanish discovery of San Francisco Bay.
    • San Diego: A 1969 stamp celebrated 200 years of settlement in San Diego.
    • Alta California: A 1977 stamp marked 200 years since the first civil settlement in Alta California at San Jose.
    • California Gold Rush: A 1948 stamp celebrated 100 years since gold was discovered in California at Sutter's Mill. This led to the "rush of Argonauts" and rapid growth.
    • Nevada Settlement: A 1951 stamp marked 100 years since the first permanent white settlement in Nevada.
    • Nevada Silver Rush: A 1959 stamp celebrated 100 years of silver discovery in Virginia City, Nevada.
  • 10-cent Panama-Pacific Expo 1913 U.S. Stamp.1

    San Francisco, California
    1913 issue

  • California settlement 200th 1969 U.S. stamp.1

    San Diego, California
    1969 issue

  • Stamp US 1977 13c Alta California

    Alta California 1777
    1977 issue

  • California gold rush 1948 U.S. stamp.1

    California gold rush
    1948 issue

  • Nevada Centennial 1951 U.S. stamp.1

    First Nevada settlement
    1951 issue

  • Silver Centennial stamp 4c 1959 issue

    Nevada silver rush
    1959 issue

Becoming States: Statehood Celebrations

Many stamps celebrate when territories officially became U.S. states.

States That Were Never Territories

The original 13 states were British colonies before the American Revolutionary War. Their statehood was celebrated with a series of stamps from 1987 to 1990, marking 200 years since they approved the U.S. Constitution.

Some other states also became states without first being an "organized U.S. territory":

  • Vermont (1791)
  • Kentucky (1792)
  • Maine (1820)
  • Texas (1845)
  • California (1850)
  • West Virginia (1863)
  • Vermont, Kentucky, and Maine Statehood:
    • Vermont: A 1941 stamp celebrated 150 years of Vermont statehood.
    • Kentucky: A 1942 stamp marked 150 years since Kentucky joined the Union. It shows Daniel Boone overlooking the Kentucky River.
    • Maine: A 1970 stamp celebrated 150 years of Maine statehood, showing a lighthouse.
  • Vermont 150th Anniv statehood 3c 1941 issue

    Vermont statehood, 1791
    1941 issue

  • Kentucky Statehood 1942 Issue-3c

    Kentucky statehood, 1792
    1942 issue

  • Maine statehood 1970 U.S. stamp

    Maine statehood, 1820
    1970 issue

  • Texas, California, and West Virginia Statehood:
    • Texas: A 1945 stamp marked 100 years of Texas statehood.
    • California: A 1950 stamp celebrated 100 years of California statehood. It shows a gold miner and pioneers.
    • West Virginia: A 1963 stamp marked 100 years of West Virginia statehood, showing a map of the state.
  • Texas Statehood 1945 Issue-3c

    Texas statehood, 1845
    1945 issue

  • California statehood 1950 U.S. stampf

    California statehood, 1850
    1950 issue

  • WVaCent

    West Virginia statehood, 1863
    1963 issue

Eastern States from Territories

Many states in the eastern U.S. were formed from territories.

  • Tennessee and Ohio Statehood:
    • Tennessee: A 1946 stamp celebrated 150 years of Tennessee statehood. It shows the State Capitol and portraits of Andrew Jackson and John Sevier.
    • Ohio: A 1953 stamp marked 150 years of Ohio statehood. It features the state seal on a map.
  • Tennessee Statehood 1946 Issue3c

    Tennessee statehood, 1796
    1946 issue

  • Ohio statehood 1953 U.S. stamp.1

    Ohio statehood, 1803
    1953 issue

  • Indiana, Mississippi, and Illinois Statehood:
    • Indiana: A 1966 stamp celebrated 150 years of Indiana joining the Union.
    • Mississippi: A 1967 stamp marked 150 years of Mississippi statehood, featuring the magnolia flower.
    • Illinois: A 1968 stamp celebrated 150 years of Illinois statehood, showing a farm scene.
  • Indiana statehood 1966 U.S. stamp.1

    Indiana statehood, 1816
    1966 issue

  • Mississippi statehood 1967 U.S. stamp.1

    Mississippi statehood, 1817
    1967 issue

  • Illinois statehood 1968 U.S. stamp.1

    Illinois statehood, 1818
    1968 issue

  • Alabama, Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin Statehood:
    • Alabama: A 1969 stamp celebrated 150 years of Alabama statehood, featuring the camellia flower and yellowhammer bird.
    • Michigan: A 1935 stamp marked 100 years of Michigan joining the Union.
    • Florida: A 1945 stamp celebrated 100 years of Florida statehood.
    • Wisconsin: A 1948 stamp marked 100 years of Wisconsin statehood, showing the State Capitol.
  • Alabama statehood 1969 U.S. stamp.1

    Alabama, 1819
    1969 issue

  • Michigan centenary 1935 U.S. stamp.1

    Michigan statehood, 1835
    1935 issue

  • Florida statehood centenary 1945 U.S. stamp.1

    Florida statehood, 1845
    1945 issue

  • Wisconsin statehood 1948 U.S. stamp.1

    Wisconsin statehood, 1848
    1948 issue

Western States from Territories

Many states in the western U.S. also grew from territories.

  • Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas Statehood:
    • Louisiana: A 1962 stamp celebrated 150 years of Louisiana statehood, showing a riverboat.
    • Missouri: A 1971 stamp marked 150 years of Missouri statehood. It shows a scene of Native Americans and settlers.
    • Arkansas: A 1936 stamp celebrated 100 years of Arkansas statehood, showing the Old State House.
  • Louisiana statehood 1962 U.S. stamp.1

    Louisiana statehood, 1802
    1962 issue

  • Missouri statehood 1971 U.S. stamp.1

    Missouri statehood, 1821
    1971 issue

  • Arkansas centennial 1936 U.S. stamp.1

    Arkansas statehood, 1836
    1936 issue

  • Iowa and Minnesota Statehood:
    • Iowa: A 1946 stamp marked 100 years of Iowa statehood, showing the state flag and corn stalks.
    • Minnesota: A 1958 stamp celebrated 100 years of Minnesota statehood, highlighting its lakes and hills.
  • Iowa statehood 1946 U.S. stamp.1

    Iowa statehood, 1846
    1946 issue

  • USstampMNstatehood1858-1958

    Minnesota statehood, 1858
    1958 issue

  • Oregon, Kansas, Nevada, Nebraska, and Colorado Statehood:
    • Oregon: A 1959 stamp celebrated Oregon statehood, showing a covered wagon and Mount Hood.
    • Kansas: A 1961 stamp marked 100 years of Kansas statehood, featuring a sunflower and pioneers.
    • Nevada: A 1964 stamp celebrated 100 years of Nevada statehood, showing Carson City.
    • Nebraska: A 1967 stamp marked 100 years of Nebraska statehood, featuring a Hereford cow and an ear of corn.
    • Colorado: A 1951 stamp celebrated 75 years of Colorado statehood, showing the capitol building and the state flower.
  • Stamp-oregon-statehood

    Oregon statehood, 1859
    1959 issue

  • Stamp-kansas-statehood

    Kansas statehood, 1861
    1961 issue

  • Nevada statehood 1964 stampf

    Nevada statehood, 1864
    1964 issue

  • Nebraska statehood 1967 U.S. stamp.1

    Nebraska statehood, 1867
    1967 issue

  • Colorado statehood 1951 U.S. stampf

    Colorado statehood, 1876
    1951 issue

  • North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming Statehood:
    • Four States (1939): A 1939 stamp celebrated 50 years of statehood for North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. It shows a map of these states.
    • Idaho: A 1940 stamp marked 50 years of Idaho statehood, showing the State Capitol.
    • Wyoming: A 1940 stamp celebrated 50 years of Wyoming statehood, showing the state seal.
  • Four-state 50th anniversary 1939 U.S. stamp.1

    4- state statehood, 1889
    ND, SD, MT, WA
    1939 issue

  • Idaho 50th Anniv Statehood 3c 1940 issue

    Idaho statehood, 1890
    1940 issue

  • Wyoming statehood 1940 U.S. stamp.1

    Wyoming statehood, 1890
    1940 issue

  • Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii Statehood:
    • Oklahoma: A 1957 stamp marked 50 years of Oklahoma statehood, with the slogan "arrows to atoms."
    • New Mexico: A 1962 stamp celebrated 50 years of New Mexico statehood, featuring "Shiprock" mesa.
    • Arizona: A 1962 stamp marked 50 years of Arizona statehood, showing a saguaro cactus.
    • Alaska: A 1959 airmail stamp celebrated Alaska statehood. It shows the state flag's stars on a map.
    • Hawaii: A 1959 airmail stamp celebrated Hawaii statehood. It pictures a Hawaiian warrior and a star on a map of the islands.
  • Oklahoma 1957 Statehood Stamp

    Oklahoma, 1907
    1962 issue

  • New Mexico statehood 1962 U.S. stamp.1

    New Mexico, 1912
    1962 issue

  • Arizona statehood 1962 U.S. stamp.1

    Arizona, 1912
    1962 issue

  • Alaska Statehood 7c 1959 Airmail issue

    Alaska, 1959
    1959 issue

  • Hawaii statehood commemorative stamp 7c 1959 issue

    Hawaii, 1959
    1959 issue

Brave Explorers: Discovering New Lands

Stamps also honor the explorers who first ventured into these new lands.

  • Early European Explorers:
    • Christopher Columbus: He was honored on the first U.S. commemorative stamps in 1893. His voyages made the Americas known in Europe.
    • Leif Erikson: This 11th-century Norse explorer was honored on a 1968 stamp.
    • Vasco Núñez de Balboa: This Spanish explorer of the Panama Canal region was honored on a 1913 stamp. He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the American continent.
  • French Explorers:
    • Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac: A 1951 stamp honored him on the 250th anniversary of his landing in Detroit in 1701. He founded the city of Detroit.
    • Jacques Marquette: He was honored on a 1898 stamp for exploring the Mississippi River. A 1968 stamp also honored him for establishing a settlement in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.
    • Jean Nicolet: A 1934 stamp celebrated 300 years since his landing at Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1634.
  • English Explorers:
    • John Smith: He was honored on a 1907 stamp for his role in the Jamestown settlement and exploring the Chesapeake region.
    • Philip Carteret: A 1964 stamp honored him on New Jersey's 300th anniversary. He landed at Elizabethtown (Elizabeth), the state's oldest city.
  • Spanish Explorers:
    • Francisco Vázquez de Coronado: He explored the Pacific Southwest for Spain. A 1935 stamp marked 400 years since his expedition. Another 1940 stamp also celebrated his explorations through the southwestern states.
  • American Explorers:
    • Daniel Boone: This famous frontiersman was honored on a 1968 stamp. He was important in the development of Virginia, Kentucky, and the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
    • Lewis and Clark: Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark led the Corps of Discovery to map the Pacific Northwest. A 1954 stamp celebrated 150 years of their expedition. They explored the vast lands of the Louisiana Purchase.
  • Later American Explorers:
    • John C. Frémont: He was honored on a 1898 stamp. He was pictured placing the U.S. flag on a peak in the Rocky Mountains.
    • John Wesley Powell: This geologist explored the Colorado River. A 1969 stamp honored him for his 1869 expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers. He is considered the father of the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Territories of the United States on stamps Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.