Owney the Railroad Post Office Dog's Journey

Owney was a mutt who became the unofficial mascot of the United States Postal Service's (USPS) railroad mail service in the late 19th century.

Born in 1889, Owney was a stray dog who wandered onto a post office in Albany, New York, where he befriended the postal workers.

Owney's big break came when he started accompanying postal workers on their mail runs, earning him a reputation as a loyal and hardworking companion.

Owney's job was to protect the mailbags from stray animals and other hazards, and he took his responsibilities very seriously.

Owney was a mutt who became a beloved postal mascot in the late 19th century. He was a stray dog that wandered onto a post office premises in Albany, New York.

Owney's first job was to ride the mail trains and protect the mailbags from other animals and people. He was a natural at this job and became a familiar sight on the trains.

Owney's popularity grew, and he was soon given a special collar with a nameplate and a badge that read "Owney, Property of the US Postal Service". He even had his own uniform, a postal jacket with a brass nameplate.

Owney's loyalty and dedication to his job earned him a special place in the hearts of postal workers and the public. He was a true postal hero.

Owney's legacy lives on, and he remains one of the most famous postal mascots in history. He is still celebrated by postal workers and dog lovers alike.

Owney was quite the traveler. He slipped onto a rail car one day and caught another train back to Albany, likely encouraged by some humans but clearly enjoying the ride.

Rail travel in the 1880s and 1890s was quite treacherous, especially for postal workers who stood for most of the trip sorting mail. Over 80 mail clerks were killed and more than 2000 were injured between 1890 and 1900.

Owney became a good luck charm for the trains, and the men believed that if he was traveling with them, the rail trip would be a safe one. He even traveled internationally in 1895, visiting Japan and through Asia and Europe.

Owney's travels took him to many places, including New York to California, and he had the tags to prove it. He "jingled like sleigh bells" when he returned from a trip, thanks to the many tags and trinkets he collected along the way.

Before each trip, the staff in Albany made sure Owney's "travel card" was starting fresh, removing and preserving the tags from his previous trip.

Owney traveled extensively throughout the U.S. for eleven years, visiting places from New York to California.

He became a familiar face on the Railway Mail Service, with his travel card collecting tags from each destination, often in the form of town buttons or pins.

Owney's love for travel was encouraged by the postal staff in Albany, who made sure his travel card was fresh before each trip.

The tags on Owney's collar jingled like sleigh bells as he returned from a trip, a testament to his adventures across the country.

Postmaster General John Wanamaker recognized Owney's significance by presenting him with a coat to display all his tags and naming him the official mascot of the Railway Mail Service.

Owney's travels took him to notable events like the World's Fair and labor troubles, as well as to cities like Seattle, Washington, and Memphis, Tennessee.

He always traveled in mail cars, following the mail wagon to the Post Office in towns he liked, and was known to form good opinions of places from the car door.

Owney was a common mutt, recognized as at least part terrier, and he even attended some dog shows, which were called "Bench Shows" at the time.

He was the star attraction of at least two such shows during his lifetime, drawing in crowds and making him a true celebrity.

Reporters noted that he was "a drawing card" at the 1893 Los Angeles show, which gives you an idea of just how popular he was.

Owney's fans showed their appreciation with a wide range of tokens and commemorations. Dog License Tokens were often given to Owney, sometimes just because it was the nearest available tag.

These tokens were often humorous, like the "Knights of the Grip" organization of Railway mail clerks, or serious, like the Masons. Fraternal Organization Tokens like these celebrated a donor's connection to Owney and a larger organization.

Local Commemorative Tokens were also popular, celebrating a town, state, or local tourist stop. Postal Employee Tokens were given by Railway mail clerks, who had a special connection to the wandering dog.

Owney's fans went to great lengths to honor him. They gave him coins and medals, showing their appreciation for the loyal and hardworking dog.

A fan gave Owney a commemorative half dollar, a large amount of money to place around a dog's neck during those hard times. This was a significant gesture, considering the economic struggles of the time.

Another fan attached a medal celebrating President George Washington on one side, and aluminum mining on the other.

Owney's fans honored him with coins and medals, showcasing their creativity and appreciation for the wandering dog.

One fan gave Owney a commemorative half dollar, a significant amount of money to attach around a dog's neck during those times.

A medal was attached to Owney's collar, celebrating President George Washington on one side and aluminum mining on the other.

These coins and medals demonstrate the unique ways people chose to commemorate Owney's travels and friendship.

Owney was taken to the Post Office Department's headquarters in Washington, DC, where he was put on display for the public.

The Department added Owney to their display at the St. Louis, Missouri, World’s Fair in 1904.

Owney was then transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1911.

The Institution allowed Owney to travel to the Post Office Department’s exhibit at the Sesquicentennial exhibit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1926.

From 1964-1992, Owney was displayed at the Smithsonian museum now known as the National Museum of American History.

In 1993, Owney moved to the new National Postal Museum, where he remains on display next to a fabricated Railway Post Office train car.

You can now find Owney's many tags and a souvenir spoon commissioned by a group of Cleveland, Ohio, postal clerks in the Owney Collection Objects.

Owney was placed on display for the public at the Post Office Department's headquarters in Washington, DC.

He was later added to the Department's display at the St. Louis, Missouri, World's Fair in 1904.

Owney traveled to the Sesquicentennial exhibit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1926, where he was displayed as part of the Post Office Department's exhibit.

After being displayed at the Smithsonian museum from 1964-1992, Owney was moved to the new National Postal Museum in 1993.

Today, Owney remains on display next to a fabricated Railway Post Office train car at the National Postal Museum.

In collecting and displaying items, it's essential to consider the storage and preservation of fragile items, such as antique vases, which can be easily damaged if not handled properly.

Fragile items should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. This helps prevent fading and cracking.