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National Postal Museum

National Postal Museum in 2008
Location of the National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C.Show map of Central Washington, D.C.National Postal Museum (the United States)Show map of the United States
Established	July 30, 1993 (1993-07-30)
Location	Postal Square Building Washington, D.C., U.S.
Coordinates	38°53′53″N 77°00′30″W / 38.89806°N 77.00833°W / 38.89806; -77.00833
Director	Elliot Gruber
Public transit access	at Union Station Amtrak/MARC/VRE at Washington Union Station
Website	postalmuseum.si.edu

The National Postal Museum, located in Washington, D.C., is the primary postal museum of the United States. It covers large portions of the postal history of the United States and other countries. It was established through joint agreement between the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened in 1993.

Premises

The museum is located 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 is based in this building, and there is also space for a data center for the United States Senate. It is located across the street from Washington Union Station.

Displays

The museum's atrium features vehicles used to deliver mail throughout the history of the USPS, including planes, trains and automobiles. Historical exhibits guide visitors through the postal service's inception and expansion, as well as its role in significant national events such as World War II. "Systems at Work" explores historic and current technologies involved in mail processing and delivery, such as message boxes, ZIP codes, optical scanners and conveyor systems.

The museum holds the National Philatelic Collection. The museum has a gift shop and a United States Postal Service philatelic sales window. Admission is free.

In 2005, the museum acquired the childhood stamp collection of the late singer/songwriter John Lennon. From June 2015 until December 2019, the museum displayed the 1856 British Guiana 1c 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

• Opening sign for dedication of the National Postal Museum
• Mail-carrying stagecoach at National Postal Museum
• Air-mail plane anchored from the ceiling at the National Postal Museum
• Dead letters exhibit at Postal Museum
• Museum poster extolling value of postal delivery
• John Lennon's childhood stamp collection

See also

• List of philatelic libraries
• Mission-based learning
• Owney (dog)
• U.S. Postal Museums
• Postal Museum

References

1. "Meet our staff". National Postal Museum. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
2. "History of the Museum". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
3. Weeks, Christopher. (1994) AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (3rd Edition), Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-4713-3.
4. "Current Exhibitions". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
5. "Binding the Nation". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
6. "Mail Call". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
7. "Systems at Work". postalmuseum.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
8. John Lennon's First Album. Archived 2017-07-30 at the Wayback Machine Owen Edwards, Smithsonian.com, September 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
9. "British Guiana One-Cent Magenta". postalmuseum.si.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
10. "William H. Gross Stamp Gallery". postalmuseum.si.edu. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-03-28.

External links

• National Postal Museum official website
• National Postal Museum Library Official website
• Smithsonian's National Postal Museum at Google Cultural Institute

• 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.
• Massachusetts Avenue (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
• Postal museums
• 1993 establishments in Washington, D.C.
• Museums established in 1993