The National Postal Museum opened its doors on July 31, 1993. Since then the museum has created dozens of exciting exhibits and programs which have delighted and engaged its millions of walk-in and online visitors. The museum is on track to make the next 15 years even more exciting. We invite you to take this journey with us. A number of dynamic and captivating exhibits are now in the planning stage. New exhibits promise intriguing and compelling examinations of American’s postal system and opportunities to examine exceptional treasures from the stamp collecting world. Of course the museum’s lively and alluring public programs will continue to delight audiences with events through the year that offer something for everyone.

Saturday, February 9, 2008
1:00-3:00 p.m.

Join Mystic Stamp Company president Donald Sundman and American Philatelic Society past president Janet Klug as they talk about their new book, 100 Greatest American Stamps. In this lively, illustrated talk, the authors will discuss how they selected the hundred greatest stamps, highlight their favorites, and spotlight some stamps that didn’t make the cut.

  Maynard Sundman Lecture Series >>

Saturday, March 15, 2008
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Ring in the National Postal Museum’s 15th birthday in the spirit of the quinceañera tradition that marks transformation to womanhood for Hispanic/Latina girls turning 15. Celebrate memories while looking toward the future with music, stamps, and correspondence. Walk in the steps of a quinceañera, share stories, and explore career paths with special guests Alta Rodriguez of the United States Postal Service and Magdalena Mieri of the National Museum of American History.

Thursday, March 20, 2008
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Debate the environmental challenges of moving the mail with expert panelists from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the United States Postal Service (USPS), and the automobile industry. With a fleet of over 200,000 vehicles driving more than 1.2 billion miles each year, the USPS is poised to make changes that will have a dramatic impact.

  Read More >>

Thursday, May 15, 2008
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

The first scheduled airmail flights took off on May 15, 1918 from New York and Washington, DC. Join us in celebrating this fascinating moment in local and national history as well as the 15th anniversary of the National Postal Museum. Get to know the adventures of early pilots, explore the airplanes on display, and learn navigational techniques to plot your flight plan.

  Airmail in America >>

Thursday, July 17, 2008
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Come find out how Postal Inspectors prevent and solve crimes in the mail. Try out investigative techniques new and old, celebrate cases solved in the past, chat with the experts, and learn how you can help Postal Inspectors keep the mail safe.

  POSTAL INSPECTORS: THE SILENT SERVICE >>

Monday, July 28 – Friday, August 1, 2008
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Stop by the activity cart in the museum during our birthday week to learn what makes the National Postal Museum special and where we’re headed in the future.

Opening September 26, 2008

ALPHABET + PHILATELY or Alphabetilately is the alphabet of philately. Alphabetilately will be a universally appealing exhibition and a lively educational experience for visitors of every age. It will also provide an extraordinary showcase for selections from our unparalleled collection of American postal and philatelic history.

  Alphabetilately >>

Friday, August 1, 2008
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Arf, arf! Owney, the unofficial mascot of the Railway Mail Service, invites you to join him on his mail delivering adventures around the world. Have a doggone good time with this wandering canine, riding the rails, making souvenirs of your travels, and creating your own dog-themed commemorative stamp.

  Owney the Dog >>

Saturday, October 11, 2008
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Special occasions and philatelic firsts inspire commemorative cancels and covers. These beautiful items tell the story of mail’s journey with artistic flair. Find out why collectors love these special covers and cancels while exploring the museum’s collection, including covers Amelia Earhart flew around the world. Mail your own example of the National Postal Museum’s commemorative 15th Anniversary cancel now available at the Stamp Store.

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing the largest and most comprehensive collection of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Washington, DC, in the Old City Post Office Building across from Union Station. The museum is open daily, except Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.