From 1934 to 1943, the Procurement Division of the United States Department of the Treasury commissioned murals in post office buildings across the country. Part of the New Deal, the stated objective of commissioning United States post office murals was to secure artwork that met high artistic standards for public buildings, where it would be accessible to all people. The murals were intended to boost the morale of the American people suffering from the effects of the Depression by depicting uplifting subjects the people knew and loved.

Murals produced through the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (1934–1943) were funded as a part of the cost of the construction of new post offices, with one percent of the cost set aside for artistic enhancements. Murals were commissioned through competitions open to all artists in the United States.David Lembeck. "Rediscovering the People's Art: New Deal Murals in Pennsylvania’s Post Offices". Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: 2014. Almost 850 artists were commissioned to paint 1,371 murals, most of which were installed in post offices;University of Central Arkansas. "Arkansas Post Office Murals". 162 of the artists were women and three were African American.

The Treasury Relief Art Project (1935–1938), which provided artistic decoration for existing Federal buildings, produced a smaller number of post office murals. TRAP was established with funds from the Works Progress Administration. The Section supervised the creative output of TRAP, and selected a master artist for each project. Assistants were then chosen by the artist from the rolls of the WPA Federal Art Project.

Artists were asked to paint in an "American scene" style, depicting ordinary citizens in a realistic manner. Abstract and modern art styles were discouraged. Artists were also encouraged to produce works that would be appropriate to the communities where they were to be located and to avoid controversial subjects. Projects were closely scrutinized by the Section for style and content, and artists were paid only after each stage in the creative process was approved.

The Section and the Treasury Relief Art Project were overseen by Edward Bruce, who had directed the Public Works of Art Project (1933–1934). They were commission-driven public work programs that employed artists to beautify American government buildings, strictly on the basis of quality. This contrasts with the work-relief mission of the Federal Art Project (1935–1943) of the Works Progress Administration, the largest of the New Deal art projects. So great was its scope and cultural impact that the term "WPA" is often mistakenly used to describe all New Deal art, including the U.S. post office murals. "New Deal artwork" is a more accurate term to describe the works of art created under the federal art programs of that period.

The murals are the subject of efforts by the United States Postal Service to preserve and protect them. This is particularly important and problematical as some of them have disappeared or deteriorated. Some are ensconced in buildings that are worth far less than the artwork.

Alabama

Alaska Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Alaska. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlisted AnchoragePost Office and Court HouseAlaskan LandscapeArthur T. Kerrick1946Courtroom wall behind the judge's bench Commissioned in 1941, installed in the 1950s1978 78000516 Wrangell Old Town in Alaska Austin Mecklem and Marianne Appel 1943

Arizona

Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Arizona.Peter Berningham. The New Deal in the Southwest: Arizona and New Mexico. Tucson: University of Arizona Museum of Art, 1980.

Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed United States Post Office, Phoenix, Arizona Communication During the Period of Exploration Oscar Berninghaus 1939 83002993 Spanish Explorers and American Indians Progress of the Pioneer, Crossing the Desert LaVerne Nelson Black 1937 Progress of the Pioneer, the Arrival of the U.S. Mail Coach Safford History of the Gila Valley Seymour Fogel 1942 six murals

Arkansas

California

Colorado

A review of murals in Colorado's post offices found there were no frescos, but rather all had been painted on canvas.

Connecticut

Delaware Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Delaware. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlisted Dover Harvest, Spring and Summer William D. White 1937 Presently in Wesley Methodist Church, Lockermann Station Educational Building. Funded by TRAP, this mural includes several panels Harrington Men Hoeing Eve Salisbury 1941 wax tempera New Castle William Penn Welcomed at New Castle J. Scott Williams 1938 oil on canvas Rehoboth Beach Frontier Mail Karl Knaths 1940 oil on canvas Selbyville Chicken Farm William H. Calfee 1942 oil and tempera Wilmington Chemistry and Industry Herman Zimmerman 1938 oil on canvas

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Hawaii. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Schofield Barracks Branch Primitive Communication Roy King 1943 painted on wood

Idaho Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Idaho."Geographical Dictionary of Murals and Sculptures commissioned by Section of Fine Arts, Public Buildings Administration, Federal Works Agency" in American Art Annual. Washington, DC: American Federation of Arts, 1941, pp. 623–658.

Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlisted Blackfoot Main Post Office, in Blackfoot The Arrival Celebration Andrew Standing Soldier 1939 Five-panel mural addressing Federal governments public works and arts programs as efforts to help the community in times of economic emergency. It was painted for $2,000. with 1989 Buhl Snake River Ferry Richard Guy Walton 1941 1989 Burley Pioneer on the Oregon Trail along the Snake River Elizabeth Lochrie 1938 Kellogg DiscoveryDiscovery, from Post Mark Collectors Club. Fletcher Martin 1941 Martin's original proposal, Mine Rescue (1939), was deemed too controversial. It is now in the Smithsonian American Art Museum.Mine Disaster, from Smithsonian Institution. 1990 Preston Main Post Office, in Preston The Battle of Bear River Edmund J. Fitzgerald 1941 Depicts U.S. cavalry attacking and burning a Native American village. Approximately in size. With . 1989 St. Anthony The Fur Traders Elizabeth Lochrie 1939

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Montana. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Billings Post Office and Courthouse, in Billings Trailing Cattle Leo J. Beaulaurier 1942 Deer Lodge James and Granville Stuart Prospecting in Deer Lodge Valley – 1858 Verona Burkhard 1939 Dillon News from the States Elizabeth Lochrie 1938 Glasgow Post Office and Courthouse, in Glasgow Montana's Progress Forrest Hill 1942 72" x 168" painting that earned the artist $1,250 with 1986 Hamilton Flat Head War Party Henry Meloy 1942 oil on canvas Sidney General Sully at Yellowstone J.K. Ralston 1942

Nebraska

Nevada Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Nevada.

Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Lovelock The Uncovering of the Comstock Lode Ejnar Hansen 19401990 Winnemucca Cattle Roundup Polly Duncan 19401990 Yerington Homestead on the Plain Adolph Gottlieb 1941 oil on canvas; winner of the 48-State Mural Competition 1990

New Hampshire Following is a list of United States post office murals created in New Hampshire. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Lebanon Rural New Hampshire Charles Kaesalau 1939 oil on canvas Milford Lumberman Log-Rolling Philip von Saltza 1940 oil on canvas, winner of the 48-State Mural Competition Peterborough New Hampshire Post in Winter Marguerite Zorach 1938 1986 Plymouth John Balch-First Post Rider of Plymouth R. Crawford Livingston 1938 fresco Wolfeboro New Hampshire Sugar Camp Andrew Winter 1938

New Jersey

New Mexico Following is a list of United States post office murals created in New Mexico.

Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlistedFederal Building and United States Courthouse AlbuquerqueThe Pueblo Rebellion of 1680Loren Mozleyoil on canvas, TRAP, probably in Old Post Office until c. 19721980ClovisNew Mexican TownPaul Lantz1937 Deming Main Post Office, DemingMountains and YuccaKenneth M. Adams1937mural featured on 2019 Post Office Murals stamp set1990US Post Office-Portales Main, in PortalesBuffalo RangeTheodore Van Soelen19381990RatonFirst Mail Crossing Raton PassJoseph A. Fleck1936Unloading the Mail in RatonRoswell Post Office and Courthouse RoswellJustice Tempered with Mercy — Uphold the Right, Prevent the WrongEmil Bisttram1936TRAP, begun under PWAP, moved to ABQ courthouse in 1983 US Post Office-Truth or Consequences Main, in Truth or ConsequencesGeronimo Springs station Indian Bear DanceKathryn A. Flynn and Andrew L. Connors. Treasures on New Mexico Trails: Discover New Deal Art and Architecture. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press, 1995, pp. 101–102. Boris Deutsch 1938 winner of the 48-State Mural Competition, formerly called Hot Springs, New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota Following is a list of United States post office murals created in North Dakota.

Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Langdon Indians Demanding Wagon Toll Leo Beaulaurier 1939 oil on canvas New Rockford Advance Guard of the West Edward Buk Ulreich 1940 oil on canvas; winner of the 48-State Mural Competition 1989 Rugby Rugby, the Geographical Center of North America Kenneth Callahan 1943 oil on canvas 1989

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Oregon. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHP listed Burns Cattle Roundup Jack Wilkinson 1941 oil on canvas; winner of the 48-State Mural Competition Eugene Willamette Valley Lumber, Farming and Husbandry Carl Morris 1943 Grants Pass Rogue River Indians Louis DeMott Bunce 1938 tempera Early and Contemporary Industries Eric Lamade tempera Newburg Early Mail Carriers in the West Rockwell Carey 1937 oli on canvas Ontario Trail to Oregon Edmond J Fitzgerald 1938 oil on canvas Portland Post Rider Paul Grellert 1936 destroyed Saint Johns Development of St. Johns John Ballator 1936 oil on canvas; several muralsEric LamadeLouis DeMott Bunce Salem Builders of Salem Andrew McD. Vincent 1942 oil on canvas Tillamook Captain Gray Entering Tillamook Bay Lucia Wiley 1943 Fresco secco

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Puerto Rico. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlisted Mayagüez The Indian Mail System Jose Maduro 1940 Receipt of the First Official Spanish Mail in the Island of Puerto Rico in 1541

Rhode Island Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Rhode Island. Location Mural title Image Artist Date NotesNRHPlisted Apponaug Apponaug Fishermen Paul Sample 1942 oil on canvas East Providence The Hurricane Eugene Kingman 1939 oil on wall Seeconk River East Providence The Map After the Storm Wakefield Activities of the Narragansett Planters Ernest Hamlin Baker 1940 oil on canvas

South Carolina

South Dakota Following is a list of United States post office murals created in South Dakota.