National Postal Museum

The National Postal Museum is the main museum for mail and postal services in the United States. It is found in Washington, D.C. and shows the history of how letters and packages have been sent around the world. The museum was created by the United States Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institution and opened its doors to visitors in 1993.

It has many interesting things from the past, like old post offices, special stamps, and machines that help sort mail. Learning about the postal service helps us understand how important it is to send and receive messages and goods quickly and safely. The museum is a great place for anyone curious about how mail has changed over time.

Premises

The National Postal Museum is found in a special building in Washington, D.C. This building used to be the main post office from 1914 until 1986. It was designed by a group of architects called Graham and Burnham. Today, the building also holds offices for the United States Department of Labor and a data center for the United States Senate. The museum is right across the street from Washington Union Station.

Displays

The museum's main area shows vehicles like planes, trains, and automobiles that have been used to deliver mail. You can learn about how the postal service started and grew, and see how it helped during big events like World War II. There is also a part called "Systems at Work" that shows old and new tools used to sort and deliver mail, including message boxes, ZIP codes, optical scanners, and conveyor systems.

The museum is home to the National Philatelic Collection and has a gift shop. You can visit a special counter where you can buy stamps. Admission to the museum is free.

Events

Since 2002, the museum has given out the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award every two years. This award recognizes special achievements in stamp collecting and related activities.