A new U.S. Postal Service stamp is bringing attention back to the Revolutionary War hero tied to Kosciusko. — and to a local connection first celebrated during America’s Bicentennial in 1976.
The USPS recently released its “Figures of the American Revolution” stamp series as part of the America 250 commemoration leading up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The collection highlights 25 individuals who played key roles in the nation’s founding, including Tadeusz Kościuszko, the Polish engineer and Revolutionary War hero for whom Kosciusko is named.
Kościuszko is internationally known for his service under George Washington and his engineering work at West Point. In Kosciusko, that legacy has been honored for generations.
During the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, Redbud Springs Park was dedicated with soil brought from Kościuszko’s hometown in Poland, symbolically linking the two communities.
Today, a statue of Kościuszko stands in the park just off the downtown square. The monument was placed there in October 2006 during a public dedication ceremony.
This is not the first time Kościuszko has been featured on a U.S. postage stamp.
According to the Smithsonian’s Postal Museum, a 5-cent blue stamp honoring General Thaddeus Kościuszko was issued on October 13, 1933, marking the 150th anniversary of his American citizenship.
The stamp depicted the statue of Kościuszko located in Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. Kościuszko served under General George Washington, fought in several key battles during the Revolution, and is best known for his engineering work on the fortifications at West Point.
The name Kosciusko itself dates back to the city’s early history along the Natchez Trace, when surveyor William Dodd reportedly suggested naming the community after Kościuszko, replacing the earlier name Redbud Springs.
Today, the city also honors the Revolutionary War hero with a second monument at the Kosciusko Visitor Center near the Natchez Trace Parkway.
The new stamp release is part of a broader Smithsonian National Postal Museum exhibition recognizing both well-known and lesser-known figures of the Revolution.
It serves as a reminder that the nation’s founding story continues to be reflected in communities across the country — including Kosciusko, Mississippi, which has carried Kościuszko’s name for generations.
