Families celebrated heritage with fun hands-on activities and storytime based on stamps featuring Asian Pacific American art, culture, people, and heritage.

Kids designed stamps inspired by the colorful 2009 Chinese Lunar New Year commemorative stamp, which features a striking image of the Lion Dance by artist Kam Mak. The green and white lion truly captured kids’ imaginations.

Born in the Year of the Ox himself, Mak selected the lion as this year’s Lunar New Year symbol because it has been one of his favorite traditions since childhood. Young stamp artists also enjoyed storytime featuring Mak’s book My Chinatown: One Year in Poems.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Part Japanese lantern, part modern art, this child’s sculpture was inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi. Lamps crafted from mulberry paper and bamboo, called “Akari,” are one of Noguchi’s signature creations. His artwork is featured on five 2004 US postage stamps.

An East-West sculpture created by a museum visitor derives its pattern from a familiar source—a marker cap. Visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Globby but graceful, this sculpture was created by a museum visitor in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The artwork of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi served as inspiration.

“Everything starts with a snake,” said one young museum visitor as she rolled up a ball of white clay during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration at the Postal Museum. Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This sculpture also celebrates National Train Day, which was taking place at Union Station on the same day!

Part Japanese lantern, part palm tree, this child’s sculpture was inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi. Lamps crafted from mulberry paper and bamboo, called “Akari,” are one of Noguchi’s signature creations. His artwork is featured on five 2004 US postage stamps.

This donut-shaped sculpture was inspired by the work of Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist whose works are featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004.

This abstract sculpture was inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Miss Expanding Universe.” Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004. “So much modern stuff is so bitter, so hopeless,” said Isamu Noguchi. “To me, at least. ‘Miss Expanding Universe’ is full of hope.” (“Third Noguchi,” Time. Oct. 10, 1932)

This donut-shaped sculpture was inspired by the work of Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist whose works are featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

This abstract sculpture was inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Miss Expanding Universe.” Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004. “So much modern stuff is so bitter, so hopeless,” said Isamu Noguchi. “To me, at least. ‘Miss Expanding Universe’ is full of hope.” (“Third Noguchi,” Time. Oct. 10, 1932

This abstract sculpture was inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Miss Expanding Universe” (1932). Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004. “So much modern stuff is so bitter, so hopeless,” said Isamu Noguchi. “To me, at least. ‘Miss Expanding Universe’ is full of hope.” (“Third Noguchi,” Time. Oct. 10, 1932)

Inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Black Sun” (1960-1963), this East-West sculpture was created by a museum visitor to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004.

Inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Black Sun” (1960-1963), this East-West sculpture was created by a museum visitor to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004.

An East-West sculpture created by a museum visitor derives its pattern from a familiar source—a marker cap. Visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Part Japanese lantern, part modern art, this child’s sculpture was inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi. Lamps crafted from mulberry paper and bamboo, called “Akari,” are one of Noguchi’s signature creations. His artwork is featured on five 2004 US postage stamps.

This abstract sculpture created by a young museum visitor was inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist whose works are featured on five US postage stamps. The sculpture studio was just one of many activities presented to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at the Postal Museum.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

This sculpture created by a young museum visitor blends the artwork of Isamu Noguchi with a familiar Western symbol—Mickey Mouse! Visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

This abstract sculpture was inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Miss Expanding Universe.” Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004. “So much modern stuff is so bitter, so hopeless,” said Isamu Noguchi. “To me, at least. ‘Miss Expanding Universe’ is full of hope.” (“Third Noguchi,” Time. Oct. 10, 1932)

This abstract sculpture was inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s “Miss Expanding Universe.” Noguchi’s artwork is featured on five US postage stamps issued in 2004. “So much modern stuff is so bitter, so hopeless,” said Isamu Noguchi. “To me, at least. ‘Miss Expanding Universe’ is full of hope.” (“Third Noguchi,” Time. Oct. 10, 1932)

“This one is called ‘Twist,’” said a young museum visitor, proudly handing over his sculpture to be photographed. It was inspired by the artwork of Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi.

Museum visitors created sculptures inspired by the artwork of Isamu Noguchi, featured on five 2004 US postage stamps, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Sculpture fans enjoyed “Isamu’s Sculpture Studio” activity. Provided with a glob of white clay, sculptors of all ages created three dimensional objects inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s artwork. Known for blending East and West, this Japanese-American artist’s work is featured on five 2004 stamps. Visitors’ artwork was then photographed and transformed into “stamps.”  Explore the Noguchi Museum to learn more about the artist’s life and work.

At the “Talk like a Surfer” activity table, visitors learned surfer slang in honor of Duke Kahanamoku, Olympic swimming champion and world-recognized surfer. Kahanamoku is featured on a 2002 postage stamp. In the story corner, kids enjoyed reading Surfer of the Century: the Life of Duke Kahanamoku.

In the museum’s train car, families also enjoyed sorting the mail, an activity offered in connection with National Train Day taking place at neighboring Union Station. In connection with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, volunteers discussed the role of Chinese-Americans in building the railroads and read Coolies, a richly illustrated book about two Chinese brothers working on the railroad.

Do it at home: Download and color this ox design inspired by the 2009 Chinese Lunar New Year commemorative stamp

Explore: People and Places of the Pacific featured collection