In 1869 John Bird constructed a wharf and warehouse on Montezuma Slough, and soon a community began to evolve one mile east of the wharf. A blacksmith shop came first, and the store was built in 1875, the same year the town was officially named Birds Landing and Bird was named postmaster. By 1878 the town had a butcher shop, a saloon, a shoemaker, and a furniture business. In 1880 Bird bought one half interest in the store. Chris and Evelyn Benjamin bought the store from Bird in 1921, and Evelyn served as postmaster for 50 years. The post office later relocated to a tool shed and became one of the nation's smallest full service post offices.