The postage stamp bearing the likeness of the historic Tamaqua train station will be released March 9.

The U.S. Postal Service plans to unveil the stamp, along with four others included in the “Railroad Stations Forever” series, from Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Locally, folks are invited to the 1874 Tamaqua passenger depot near the Five Points intersection to celebrate the stamp’s release at 6 p.m. March 9.

The U.S. Postal Service announced in October that the station was one of five selected from around the country for a stamp. The others are Point of Rocks Station in Maryland; Main Street Station in Richmond, Virginia; Santa Fe Station in San Bernardino, California; and Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Ohio.

All are listed in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places, and are examples of stations that continue to contribute to the community, the USPS said.

“Just as the railroad represents progress and movement, railroad stations hold stories of industry and commerce, of migration and hope for the future, of reunions and goodbyes. They are gateways and crossroads where lives meet,” USPS said in a statement.

The Tamaqua SOS Save Our Station is organizing the local celebratory event, and said that there will be new stamp merchandise available at the station’s gift shop along with a 7 p.m. toast ceremony.

Tamaqua SOS was responsible for rescuing the once blighted depot from demolition and spearheading a $1.5 million revitalization that was supported by the Tamaqua borough and area civic groups.

The depot serves as a visitors’ center for Schuylkill County and the Schuylkill River National and State Heritage Area. It includes a restaurant and functions as the boarding site for train excursions to and from the borough.

In its peak years in the first half of the 20th century, more than 40 passenger trains stopped in Tamaqua daily.

A local train enthusiast, the Rev. Dr. Philip K. Smith, pointed out an interesting fact about the Cincinnati Union Terminal.

“It replaced five local stations and cost $41 million, an immense sum around 1930. Opened March 19, 1933, the eight passenger platforms were more than enough for those who could travel during the Great Depression,” said Smith, pastor of Mount Zion Lutheran Church in Zion Grove and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Nuremberg. “After World War II, automobiles, airplanes, and President Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway system took passengers away from railroads. It’s a miracle that terminal is still around.”

Smith said that in the early 1970s, artist Al Gumer based his drawing of the Hall of Justice of the Justice League of America on the façade of Union Terminal. The rendering was used for the animated TV show “Super Friends” starring the likes of Batman, Robin, Superman and Wonder Woman. It earned the building a prominent place in popular culture, Smith noted.

“We could say that Cincinnati Union Terminal has a secret identity,” he said.

As for the stamps, Derry Noyes served as art director, and Down the Street Designs handled the digital illustrations and typography.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the USPS store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.