USPS Building Bridges Special Postal Cancellation Series facts for kids

The USPS Building Bridges Special Postal Cancellation Series is a set of special marks used by the United States Postal Service (USPS). These marks are called cancellations or pictorial postmarks. They are used for special events.

The series started in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1996. By 2022, it had grown to include the entire Pacific Coast of the United States.

History of the Building Bridges Series

The first Building Bridges postal cancellation happened on May 29, 1996. It was part of a special event for the new Breast cancer research stamp. Many groups working for good causes were there.

Postmasters have a long history of creating special postal stations for important events. This tradition goes back to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

In 1996, two more Building Bridges cancellations were issued. Contra Costa County even declared October 1996 "Building Bridges of Peace Month." A special postal station was set up at a Health and Safety Fair. Another was at a live concert.

The Mayor of Walnut Creek, Gwen Regalia, became "Postmaster for the day" at one event. Children from local schools drew art about peace. They created a "Wall of Life" in public places.

The Valley Yellow Pages even featured the series. It recognized over 50 non-profit groups in the county.

The Building Bridges symbol was designed by Karen Earle Lile and Kendall Ross Bean. It shows a black hand and a white hand clasping. They form a bridge over water with a rainbow above. This symbol was first used in 1994 for a festival in Oakland.

Over the years, other postmasters worked with Karen Lile. They created more postal cancellations with the Building Bridges symbol. These special postal stations were set up in many places, both on land and on the water.

On-the-Water Postal Stations

The Building Bridges series also includes events on the water. The first "on-the-water" themed cancellation was held at the Berkeley Yacht Club. It celebrated the new Global surface temperatures Forever Stamp.

In 2017, for the 100th Anniversary of Opening Day on the San Francisco Bay, there were two stations. One was in San Francisco, and one was in Oakland. The San Francisco station was on a boat called the Californian. Most stamps were marked at the dock.

The Oakland station was at Jack London Square. The Oakland Postmaster, Daryl Trujillo, was aboard the Lady Washington. Many boats, including yachts and a fire boat, joined the celebration. The event featured a fun "Tall Ship Cannon Battle" between the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain.

In 2019, another cancellation happened after a cannon battle. This event was broadcast live on radio to many countries. It reached millions of people worldwide.

The series then moved up the Pacific Coast to Eureka. The Hawaiian Chieftain ship became the postal station there. Eureka's Mayor, Susan Seaman, received the first marked stamp.

Music History Postal Stations

Fantasy Studios, a famous music recording studio, closed in 2018. Many musicians were sad about this.

Karen Lile designed a new Building Bridges cancellation theme. It honored the music recorded in Berkeley, California and San Francisco. The Berkeley cancellation had a small mistake. It said "70 years" instead of "80 years" of music recording. The oldest recording found in Berkeley was from 1938.

80 Years of Music in Berkeley

A special ceremony happened inside the Main Berkeley Post Office. It celebrated 80 years of music recording in Berkeley. Plans for a marching band outside were canceled due to fires. But the ceremony was filmed.

80 Years of Music in San Francisco

A Building Bridges Music Recording History Postal Station was set up at SFJAZZ Center. People could buy special envelopes with the new Gregory Hines stamp. A unique mark was added to them.

San Francisco Postmaster Abraham Cooper gave a speech. The event was live-streamed online. It was part of Black History Month. The ceremony honored San Francisco's rich music history. This includes folk songs recorded in 1938.

Building Bridges During the Pandemic

In 2021, the USPS announced the Building Bridges theme would continue. It would reach cities on both the west and east coasts.

The first event in 2021 was on February 18. It was at the Treasure Island Museum. This event celebrated the opening of the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939. It also honored The Bicentennial of the Independence of Peru.

Due to the pandemic, only a few people could attend in person. So, the ceremony was filmed and shared online. Speakers included Postmaster Abraham Cooper and the Consul General of Peru. The event ended with a "Pacific Rim Unity Parade" of boats.

Air Mail Postal Stations

From May 10 to May 16, 2022, five cancellations took place in three cities. They honored the 110th Anniversary of Glenn L. Martin's flight. In 1912, he flew from Balboa Pier to Newport Beach.

These events also celebrated the 1938 National Airmail Week. Glenn Martin was present at that event on Catalina Island. The series also recognized the progress of International Air Mail at LAX airport. LAX is a huge center for shipping mail by air.

What the Cancellations Look Like

Every Building Bridges cancellation shares a special symbol. It shows a black hand clasping a white hand over water. This forms a bridge, with a rainbow above it.

Next to the symbol, a rectangle names the event. Later cancellations also featured special pictures. Unique Building Bridges Postal Stations are set up for each event. They usually last for 2–4 hours. Some are on land, and some are on water. Each cancellation ceremony includes special celebrations.

Marking a stamp by hand on the water is tricky. The surface needs to be very still. This helps the postal worker ink the stamp clearly.

List of Major Events