Businesses That Built America
July 1, 2026
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, here’s a look at a few American companies that were founded before the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. These remarkably resilient businesses helped build and support the new nation and have been operating continuously ever since. So if you want to read a newspaper that reported on the Boston Tea Party, buy a shovel from the manufacturer that supplied them to Revolutionary War soldiers, or even sample George Washington’s signature scent from the company that produced it, you can.
1705: The John Stevens Shop – Stone carving
1732: The Rowland Company – Tools/industrial products
1752: Caswell-Massey – Fragrances/personal care products
1764: The Hartford Courant – Newspaper publishing
1765: Baker’s Chocolate – Chocolate products
1774: The AMES Companies – Tool manufacturing
Sources: Business News Daily, 2026; Oldest.org, 2026
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Prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2025 Broadridge Financial Services, Inc
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