July 1 in History: The First U.S. Postage Stamps, ZIP Codes Launch, and Sony Introduces the Walkman

Discover what happened on July 1 in history, featuring milestones in communication, technology, entertainment, government, transportation, and major events that helped shape modern life in America and beyond.

What Happened on July 1 in History?

Important events on this day include the release of America’s first postage stamps, the introduction of ZIP codes, Sony launching the first Walkman, and the debut of the PG-13 movie rating system.

JULY 1 – TODAY IN HISTORY:

1845 – Uniform postal rates went into effect throughout the United States. The Act of Congress was passed on March 3, 1845.

1847 – In New York, NY, the U.S. Post Office issued its first adhesive stamps. The two stamps available were a 5-cent Benjamin Franklin and a 10-cent George Washington.

1862 – Congress established the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

1863 – During the U.S. Civil War, the first day’s fighting at Gettysburg began.

1870 – The U.S. Department of Justice was formed.

1874 – The Philadelphia Zoological Society opened as the first zoo in the United States.

1879 – Charles Taze Russell published the first edition of the religious magazine “The Watchtower”.

1881 – The world’s first international telephone call was made between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada and Calais, Maine, United States.

1893 – The first bicycle race track in America to be made out of wood was opened in San Francisco, CA.

1897 – Three years after the first issue of “Billboard Advertising” was published, the publication was renamed, “The Billboard”.

1903 – Start of the first Tour de France bicycle race.

1905 – The USDA Forest Service was created within the Department of Agriculture. The agency was given the mission to sustain healthy, diverse, and productive forests and grasslands for present and future generations.

1908 – S.O.S. was adopted as the international distress signal.

1909 – Thomas Edison began commercially manufacturing his new “A” type alkaline storage batteries.

1910 – Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker opened a machine shop in Baltimore, MD, making milk bottle cap machines. Six years later, they hit it big with the first portable electric drill.

1916 – Coca-Cola started using their distinctive contoured bottle to help set them apart from competitors.

1931 – United Airlines began service (as Boeing Air Transport).

1934 – The Federal Communications Commission replaced the Federal Radio Commission as the regulator of broadcasting in the United States.

1940 – In Washington, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was opened to traffic. The bridge collapsed during a wind storm on November 7, 1940.

1941 – NBC aired its first official TV commercial in New York, NY, accepting nine dollars from the Bulova Watch Company during a Dodgers-Phillies game.

1943 – The U.S. Government began automatically withholding federal income tax from paychecks.

1945 – New York established the New York State Commission Against Discrimination to prevent discrimination in employment because of race, creed or natural origin. It was the first such agency in the U.S.

1946 – President Harry Truman signed Public Law 476 that incorporated the Civil Air Patrol as a benevolent, nonprofit organization. The Civil Air Patrol was created on December 1, 1941.

1946 – The U.S. exploded a 20-kiloton atomic bomb near Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

1948 – The price of a subway ride in New York City was increased from 5 cents to 10.

1951 – Bob Feller set a major league baseball record as he pitched his third no-hitter for the Cleveland Indians.

1956 – Elvis Presley appeared on “The Steve Allen Show.” He was told not to dance and Allen had him sing “Hound Dog” to a real basset hound wearing tails.

1961 – The first community air-raid shelter was built. The shelter in Boise, ID had a capacity of 1,000 people and family memberships sold for $100.

1963 – The U.S. Postmaster introduced the five-digit ZIP (Zoning Improvement Plan) code.

1966 – The Medicare federal insurance program went into effect.

1972 – The rock musical “Hair” ended its initial Broadway run after 1750 performances.

1976 – Queen Elizabeth made British born entertainer Bob Hope an honorary Commander of the British Empire.

1979 – The Susan B. Anthony dollar coin was introduced.

1979 – Sony introduced its first Walkman — a pocket size cassette player with headphones. It spawned an entire new generation of personal and portable audio products. It sold for $200.

1980 – “O Canada” was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada.

1980 – President Jimmy Carter signed legislation that provided for 2 acres of land near the Lincoln Memorial for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

1981 – The Supreme Court ruled that candidates for federal office had an “affirmative right” to go on national television.

1984 – The PG-13 rating was introduced by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

1987 – John Kevin Hill, at age 11, became the youngest to fly across the U.S. when he landed at National Airport in Washington, DC.

1987 – Radio station WFAN in New York, NY was launched as the world’s first all-sports radio station.

1991 – Clarence Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court, leading to confirmation hearings that were among the most contentious in history.

1991 – Court TV began airing.

1992 – The movie “A League of their Own”, starring Tom Hanks and Madonna, opened in theaters.

1992 – Democrats nominated the Presidential ticket of Bill Clinton and Al Gore.

1998 – The movie “Armagedon”, starring Bruce Willis, debuted in theaters.

2010 – BP’s Deepwater Horizon spill overtook Ixtoc I to become the worst oceanic oil spill in U.S. recorded history.

2013 – Neptune’s moon S/2004 N 1 was discovered.

2020 – The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement replaced NAFTA.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON JULY 1:

Jamie Farr – 92 years old (1934) – Actor

Craig Anderson – 88 years old (1938) – Baseball player and coach

Myron Scholes – 85 years old (1941) – Canadian-American economist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Twyla Tharp – 85 years old (1941) – Dancer and choreographer

Philip Brunelle – 83 years old (1943) – Conductor and organist

Jeff Wayne – 83 years old (1943) – Composer, musician and lyricist

Mike Burstyn – 81 years old (1945) – Actor and singer

Debbie Harry – 81 years old (1945) – Singer-songwriter and actress

John Ford – 78 years old (1948) – English-American singer-songwriter and guitarist

David Duke – 76 years old (1950) – White supremacist, politician and Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard

Tom Kozelko – 75 years old (1951) – Basketball player

Terrence Mann – 75 years old (1951) – Actor, singer and dancer

Fred Schneider – 75 years old (1951) – Singer-songwriter and keyboard player

Victor Willis – 75 years old (1951) – Singer-songwriter, pianist and actor

David Arkenstone – 74 years old (1952) – Composer and performer

Mike Haynes – 73 years old (1953) – Football player

Lisa Scottoline – 71 years old (1955) – Lawyer and author

Alan Ruck – 70 years old (1956) – Actor

Jack Dyer Crouch II – 68 years old (1958) – Diplomat, United States Deputy National Security Advisor

Lynn Jennings – 66 years old (1960) – Runner

Evelyn "Champagne" King – 66 years old (1960) – Soul/disco singer

Kevin Swords – 66 years old (1960) – Rugby player

Carl Lewis – 65 years old (1961) – Long jumper and runner

Roddy Bottum – 63 years old (1963) – Singer and keyboard player

Linda Fagan – 63 years old (1963) – Coast Guard Admiral

Pamela Anderson – 59 years old (1967) – Canadian-American model and actress

Séamus Egan – 57 years old (1969) – American-Irish singer-songwriter and guitarist

Missy Elliott – 55 years old (1971) – Rapper, producer, dancer and actress

Julianne Nicholson – 55 years old (1971) – Actress

Jonathan Roumie – 52 years old (1974) – Actor

Sean Colson – 51 years old (1975) – Basketball player and coach

Sufjan Stevens – 51 years old (1975) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Liv Tyler – 49 years old (1977) – Actress

Forrest Griffin – 47 years old (1979) – Mixed martial artist and actor

Nelson Cruz – 46 years old (1980) – Dominican-American baseball player

Adrian Ward – 44 years old (1982) – Football player

Hilarie Burton – 44 years old (1982) – Actress

Chris Perez – 41 years old (1985) – Baseball player

Charlie Blackmon – 40 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Kent Bazemore – 37 years old (1989) – Basketball player

Michael Wacha – 35 years old (1991) – Baseball player

Aaron Sanchez – 34 years old (1992) – Baseball player

Chloe Bailey – 28 years old (1998) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Chosen Jacobs – 25 years old (2001) – Actor and singer

Storm Reid – 23 years old (2003) – Actress

Daniela Avanzini – 22 years old (2004) – Singer and dancer

DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR JULY 1:

• National Financial Freedom Day: Discover National Financial Freedom Day, a celebration inspiring smart budgeting, investing, and financial literacy to build independence, security, and peace of mind.
• International Reggae Day: Get into the laid-back reggae vibe by firing up some classic reggae artists like Bob Marley or Peter Tosh, or dig into the history of reggae and find some new music.
• National Postal Workers Day: Rain, shine, wind or snow, they’re out there delivering our important mail and making sure we get our packages. Thank your postal worker for their hard work.
• International Chicken Wing Day: Crispy, juicy, spicy or sweet, the ultimate finger food that's perfect for game nights, parties, or any occasion. What's not to love?
• July Morning: July Morning is a unique tradition celebrated only in Bulgaria. People gather at the coast, mountains, or other scenic spots to welcome the first sunrise of the month. This event is not just about watching the dawn; it symbolizes freedom, hope, and a fresh start! How to Celebrate July Morning To...
• American Zoo Day: Celebrate American Zoo Day by exploring wildlife, supporting conservation, and learning how zoos protect endangered species and connect people with nature.
• National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day: Celebrate National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day by tasting or inventing bold, unusual ice cream creations and exploring just how wild flavors can be.
• Blink-182 Day: Explore the energetic sounds of a pop-punk trio whose music resonates with raw emotions and infectious rhythms.
• International Joke Day: Celebrate International Joke Day by sharing jokes, enjoying comedy, and exploring the health and social benefits of laughter that bring people closer together.
• National Television Heritage Day: Celebrate National Television Heritage Day by exploring TV’s history, cultural impact, and evolution—from early broadcasts to today’s digital, global storytelling.
• Early Bird Day: Celebrate Early Bird Day by embracing tranquil mornings, catching the sunrise, boosting productivity, and enjoying early deals that reward proactive starters.
• National Baby-Led Weaning Day: Discover National Baby-Led Weaning Day, celebrating baby-led self-feeding, developmental readiness, and confident, joyful first foods for babies and caregivers.
• ZIP Code Day: Visit a new ZIP (AKA Zone Improvement Plan) code, check out a map, draw your own, or gather together with your community in the same ZIP code as you.
• National Gingersnap Day: Bake your own gingersnaps, or visit a bakery and indulge in the slightly-spicy, sweet treat. Snap a picture and share it on social media to spread the word.
• National US Postage Stamp Day: Tiny artworks, adhesive tokens bridging distances, silently narrating historical tales, each stamp an unspoken messenger of connection.
• Second Half of the Year Day: Reflect on the first half of your year, check in on your New Year’s resolutions and set goals and new resolutions for the upcoming second half of the year.
• Canada Day: Have a Canadian cook-out, research the history of this wonderful country, or plan a trip to see first-hand what the vast and diverse place has to offer.
• Wildland Firefighter Week Of Remembrance: Wildland Firefighter Week of Remembrance honors those who lost their lives while battling wildfires. These firefighters walked straight into danger, knowing what was at stake. Their job wasn’t quiet or easy. They faced smoke, heat, and fast-changing flames. It’s hard to think about what they saw or felt in those...
• Sweetness Week: Sweetness Week is an annual celebration that brings a special kind of joy to Argentina. During this time, people exchange kisses and sweet treats, turning it into a playful and romantic affair. How to Celebrate ​Sweetness Week Sweetness Week is a playful chance to spread joy and sugar. Here are some...

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