The USPS traces its roots to 1775 during the Second Continental Congress, where Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first postmaster general. The cabinet-level Post Office Department was created in 1792 from Franklin’s operation and transformed into its current form in 1971 under the Postal Reorganization Act. Life-size sculpture of Benjamin Franklin sitting on a bench in McMinnville, Oregon. I was taking pictures of my silly husband doing rabbit ears above Ben’s head when I noticed the mailbox. Canon 7D 50mm f/1.2L