|
|
|
|
|
History of the National Postal Museum
|
|
|
|
|
The National Postal Museum is located on the lower level of the historic City Post Office Building,
which was constructed in 1914 and served as the Washington, D.C., post office from 1914 through 1986.
The Museum occupies 75,000 square feet of the building with 23,000 square feet devoted to exhibition space.
The Museum also houses a 6,000-square-foot research library, a stamp store and a museum shop.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visitors enter the Museum through the lobby of the building and proceed to escalators that transport
them down to the floor level of the Museum's 90-foot-high atrium. The atrium, which features three suspended
airmail planes, is one of five exhibit galleries that tells the story of postal history in America.
The National Philatelic Collection was established at the Smithsonian in 1886 with the
donation of a sheet of 10-cent Confederate postage stamps. Generous gifts from individuals
and foreign governments, transfers from government agencies and occasional purchases have
increased the collection to today's total of more than 5.9 million items.
From 1908 until 1963, the collection was housed in the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries
Building on the National Mall. In 1964, the collection was moved to the museum that is now
known as the National Museum of American History. There, the collection expanded to include
postal history and stamp production. The collection was then moved to its present location and
the National Postal Museum opened on July 30, 1993.
In addition to one of the world's largest collections of stamps and philatelic materials,
the National Postal Museum has postal history material that pre-dates stamps,
vehicles used to transport the mail, mailboxes and mailbags, postal uniforms and equipment.
|
|
|
Museum and Exhibition Design
The National Postal Museum's award winning public spaces, shops and support facilities
were designed by the Washington, D.C. firm of Florance Eichbaum Esocoff King Architects.
The Museum's galleries and inaugural exhibitions were designed by Miles Fridberg Molinaroli,
Inc. with Bowie Gridley Architects. Support for exhibit fabrication was provided by the
Smithsonian's Office of Exhibits Central, the National Museum of American History's
Department of Exhibits and the National Air and Space Museum.
National Postal Museum Funding
The National Postal Museum opened on July 30, 1993. It was created on November 6,
1990 in a joint agreement between the Smithsonian Institution and the United States
Postal Service.
The National Postal Museum receives funding through three primary sources: the
United States Postal Service, the Smithsonian Institution's annual federal appropriation,
and gifts from private individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Without the substantial support of the United States Postal Service the National Postal
Museum would be unable to create exhibitions, conduct scholarly research, or produce exciting
public and educational programs. Each year, the United States Postal Service provides the
majority of the Museum's total operating budget.
The National Postal Museum gratefully acknowledges the continued support and commitment
of the United States Postal Service.
|
|
|
|
|
|
