National Postal Museum
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
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  Location within Washington, D.C.  National Postal Museum (the United States) | |
| Established | July 30, 1993 |
|---|---|
| Location | Postal Square Building Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°53′53″N 77°00′30″W / 38.898°N 77.0083°W |
| Director | Elliot Gruber[1] |
| Public transit access |  Union Station |
| Website | www |
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.
Premises
The museum is located across the street from Union Station, in the building that once served as the Main Post Office of Washington, D.C. from 1914, when it was constructed, 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 building in which the museum is housed also serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as a data center for the United States Senate.
Displays
The museum stores the National Philatelic Collection and also hosts many interactive displays about the history of the United States Postal Service and of mail service around the world. The museum houses a gift shop and a separate stamp shop, 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," that produces a souvenir envelope with your name printed on it and a coupon for the gift shop. As a Smithsonian museum, admission is free. This museum also houses a library.[3]
In 2005, the museum acquired John Lennon's childhood stamp collection.[4]
In September 2009, the museum received a $8 million gift from investment firm founder William H. Gross to help finance the expansion of the museum. The museum now hosts the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery named in his honor.[5]
Events
Since 2002, the museum has presented the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award every two years.
Gallery
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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
- ^ "Meet our staff". National Postal Museum. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
- ^ Weeks, Christopher. (1994) AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (3rd Edition), Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-4713-3.
- ^ "Museum library".
- ^ John Lennon's First Album. Owen Edwards, Smithsonian.com, September 2005. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "William H. Gross Stamp Gallery". National Postal Museum. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
External links
- National Postal Museum official website
- National Postal Museum Library Official website
- Smithsonian's National Postal Museum at Google Cultural Institute
- Arago: People, Postage & the Post
- 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.
- American national museums 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.