Did You Know Michigan Has The Only Floating Post Office In The World?

Growing up in Michigan and spending the majority of my life here I thought I knew a lot about the Mitten State.

Turns out you can learn something new every day.

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I just found something out about my home state that sets us apart from not only the rest of the country but the entire world.

Michigan is home to the only floating post office

The J.W. Westcott II is a boat that delivers mail to ships while they are underway.

Where Does The J.W. Westcott II Operate From?

The ship operates out of Detroit, Michigan, and is the only floating ZIP code in the United States. 

In 1948, the J.W. Westcott became an official U.S. Postal Service mail boat and soon would earn the world's first non-military floating postal ZIP code (48222)

History of The Wescott Company

The Westcott company was established in 1874 by Captain John Ward Westcott,
who ferried supplies and mail to passing ships via rowboat

The contract was just renewed to 2021 and pays for the Westcott to deliver United States mail to any vessel free of charge.

Today, J.W. Westcott continues to serve the Great Lakes marine community providing everything from nautical charts to pilotage services

How Many Trips Does The J.W. Westcott II Do Each Year?

The J.W. Westcott II runs over 6000 trips per year.