National Postal Museum

The National Postal Museum, located opposite Union Station in Washington, D.C., United States, was established through joint agreement between the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened in 1993.

Not to be confused with The British Postal Museum & Archive, formerly known as the National Postal Museum.
National Postal Museum
Location within Washington, D.C.
National Postal Museum (the United States)
EstablishedJuly 30, 1993 (1993-07-30)
LocationPostal Square Building
Washington, D.C.
Coordinates38.898°N 77.0083°W / 38.898; -77.0083
DirectorElliot Gruber[1]
Public transit access at Union Station
Amtrak/MARC/VRE at Union Station
Websitepostalmuseum.si.edu

Premises

The museum 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.[2]

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.

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 use of railroads 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.[3]

In 2005, the museum acquired the childhood stamp collection of the late singer/songwriter John Lennon.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6]

Events

Since 2002, the museum has presented the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award every two years.

  • 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

References
  1. "Meet our staff". National Postal Museum. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  2. Weeks, Christopher. (1994) AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (3rd Edition), Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-4713-3.
  3. "Museum library".
  4. John Lennon's First Album. Owen Edwards, Smithsonian.com, September 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  5. "Magenta Stamp", Postal Museum
  6. "William H. Gross Stamp Gallery". National Postal Museum. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
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