The National Postal Museum, located opposite
Union Station in
Washington, D.C., United States, covers large portions of the
Postal history of the United States
Postal may refer to:
Places
* The Italian name for Burgstall, South Tyrol in northern Italy
* Postal, Missouri
* Postal Square
* Postal Museum (Liechtenstein), a postal museum in Vaduz, Liechtenstein
People
* Fred Postal, former co-owne ...
and other countries. It was established through joint agreement between the
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
and the
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Found ...
and opened in 1993.
Premises
The
museum
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make th ...
is located across the street from
Union Station, in the
building that served as the main post office of Washington, D.C. for decades, from its construction in 1914 until 1986. The building was designed by the
Graham and Burnham architectural firm, which was led by
Ernest Graham following the death of
Daniel Burnham in 1912.
The headquarters of the
United States Department of Labor's
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics and serves as a principal agency of ...
is based in this building, and there is also space for a data center for the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and po ...
.
Displays
The museum holds the
National Philatelic Collection. It has hosted many interactive displays about the history of the United States Postal Service and of mail service around the world. The museum has a gift shop and a United States Postal Service philatelic sales window, along with exhibits on the
Pony Express
The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders. It operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pike ...
, the use of
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...
s with the mail, the preserved remains of
Owney (the first unofficial postal mascot), and an exhibit on
direct marketing called, "What's in the Mail for You." Visitors may acquire a souvenir envelope with their name printed on it and a coupon for the gift shop. As one of the national Smithsonian museums, admission is free. This museum also houses a library.
In 2005, the museum acquired the childhood stamp collection of the late singer/songwriter
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
. From June 2015 until December 2018, the museum displayed the 1856 British Guiana One-Cent Magenta, the world's most valuable stamp, which sold for nearly $10 million.
In September 2009, the museum received an $8 million gift from investment firm founder
William H. Gross to help finance an expansion project. The William H. Gross Stamp Gallery of the museum is named in his honor.
Events
Since 2002, the museum has presented the
Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award every two years.
Gallery
National Postal Museum opening sign IMG 4356.JPG, Opening sign for dedication of the National Postal Museum
stagecoach exhibit, National Postal Museum IMG 4368.JPG, Mail-carrying stagecoach at National Postal Museum
Air mail plane at National Postal Museum IMG 4373.JPG, Air-mail plane anchored from the ceiling at the National Postal Museum
Dead letter exhibit, National Postal Museum IMG 4367.JPG, Dead letters exhibit at Postal Museum
National Postal Museum poster IMG 4357.JPG, Museum poster extolling value of postal delivery
File:John Lennon's stamp collection.jpg, John Lennon's childhood stamp collection
See also
*
List of philatelic libraries
*
Owney (dog)
*
U.S. Postal Museums
*
Postal Museum
References
External links
*
* National Postal Museu
LibraryOfficial website
Smithsonian's National Postal Museum at Google Cultural InstituteArago: People, Postage & the Post
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United States Postal Service
Post office buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
Neoclassical architecture in Washington, D.C.
Philatelic museums in the United States
History museums in Washington, D.C.
Industry museums in Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian Institution museums
Postal history of the United States
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
1993 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Museums established in 1993