February 20

Recognizing the need for a unified communication network, Congress passed the Postal Service Act to organize and regulate mail distribution. Signed by President Washington, the act established the Post Office Department under the Department of State. It empowered the Postmaster General to set postage rates, define routes, and oversee operations. This legislation laid the groundwork for an expanding network of post roads and offices across the young nation. By standardizing rates and ensuring reliable service, the government fostered economic growth and civic engagement. The act also symbolized federal authority in facilitating connections between distant communities. The United States Post Office Department would become a cornerstone of national infrastructure for centuries.

On February 20, 1913, Australian politician King O'Malley ceremonially drove the first survey peg to mark the beginning of Canberra's construction. The event signaled the tangible start of work on Australia's planned capital, chosen for its neutral location between Sydney and Melbourne. Surveyors then mapped out the city's layout based on Walter Burley Griffin's winning design. This ceremony embodied the ambitions of a young nation seeking its own political center. It laid the groundwork for Canberra's development into the administrative heart of Australia. Commemorations of this milestone are held annually by city planners and historians.

On February 20, 1931, the United States Congress passed legislation authorizing the state of California to construct the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. This crucial vote provided federal backing for what would become one of the world's longest and most complex bridges. Engineers faced the challenge of spanning treacherous waters and navigating deep bay channels. The authorization kickstarted detailed planning and funding allocations. Construction began in 1933 and included vast steel piers and innovative suspension techniques. Upon completion in 1936, the bridge connected two major urban centers and transformed Bay Area transportation. It remains a landmark of American engineering and urban development.