The main post office at 315 W. Pershing opened to the public in September 1933. Built in the Greek Revival style, it is a fine example of the urban public architecture of the 1930s. A connecting tunnel under Pershing Road leads to a railroad baggage loading area across the street at Union Station, and recalls the booming days of rail transportation here.The legend on the reverse side of the card reads: The new general post office is located on the Union Station Plaza directly opposite the Union Station. Because Kansas City is one of the largest railroad centers in the country, the Kansas City post office is one of the busiest. The first post office was established in the town of Kansas in 1845 and William M. Chick was appointed postmaster. He died soon after and his son, W.H. Chick, succeeded him. The post office was located on the Missouri River levee, and Mr. Chick met the Missouri River steamboats, collected the local mail and carried it under his hat until he returned to the post office, at that time a small case of pigeon holes about three feet square in a riverfront general merchandise store. By 1858 there were improvements, a few glass boxes and drawers. Theodore S. Case, appointed postmaster by President Grant in March 1873, served four terms in Kansas City. Early in his administration in July 1873, the free delivery mail service was established here, with eight regular letter carriers and two substitutes. They wore no official uniforms, but a small brass plate with a number was fastened to their hat. Carrie Whitney in her 1909 history of Kansas City wrote: The wonderful increase in the volume of business at the post office indicates a corresponding increase in the commerce of the city. The post office gives a reliable record of the pressure of business. Gene W. Hoge is today's postmaster. He has 3,196 employees. Kansas City Times. March 25, 1983
Reproduction (printing, downloading, or copying) of images from Kansas City Public Library requires permission and payment for the following uses, whether digital or print: publication; reproduction of multiple copies; personal, non-educational purposes; and advertising or commercial purposes. Please order prints or digital files and pay use fees through this website. All images must be properly credited to: "Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri." Images and texts may be reproduced without prior permission only for purposes of temporary, private study, scholarship, or research. Those using these images and texts assume all responsibility for questions of copyright and privacy that may arise.