Gibson City, IL
If there’s one thing that’s consistent between a major metropolis and a rural town, it’s the post office. You can ship a package to anywhere on earth from your local post office with an expectation that it will arrive safely. As techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci has written, “Dependable infrastructure is magical not simply because it works, but also because it allows innovation to thrive.” The postal network provides an unappreciated amount of access to the world, all within reach of nearly every American.
While the services behind the door are the same, among branches the architecture can be vastly different. My fascination with post offices began in college when I was on a road trip to Zion National Park, and continued in grad school, when I was touring cross-country by bike. I loved experiencing the different styles of architecture and corresponding typefaces from town to town.
Some post offices reflected the unique vernacular of their region while others seemed to choose from a standard catalog of architectural styles. I even found a near replica of my hometown post office right here in Northern California. In more rural areas, post offices may serve as the focal point of the community. And there, they may be the only visible connection to the U.S. government.
I’ve shared a few images here from my collection, which I’ve been amassing since 2007, but I would encourage you to check out more at #ThePostalProject on Instagram, which has been documenting post offices for several years.