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Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is always free!
2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. Washington, DC 20002
The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.
First Lady Coolidge voting by mail, 1924
"Bimini Island" by Eduard Buk Ulreich, Tallahassee, Florida
Through the preservation and interpretation of our postal and philatelic collections, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum educates, challenges, and inspires its audiences on the breadth of American experiences.
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US Secretary of State Cordell Hull retires from office due to poor health. He was commemorated on a stamp in 1963.
The museum's galleries explore America's postal history from colonial times to the present. Visitors learn how mail has been transported and the wonder of stamps.
Public programs at the National Postal Museum provoke thinking about postal history, philately, and related topics for diverse audiences.
Docent-led tours are an excellent way to see the highlights of the National Postal Museum. The museum has regular free tours for visitors.
Search the collection to discover philatelic and postal history objects tracing the evolution of the postal services.
Learn more about objects in the museum’s collections. From the tiniest stamps to a full-sized bus, the museum is home to a wide variety of fascinating objects.
Browse these pages to discover resources organized by topic, such as African Americans in the Postal Service and Philately, Airmail Service, or Civil War.
The Museum supports a wide variety of research projects. Our efforts are a resource and point of reference for research and wider investigation by historians throughout the United States and the world.
The Museum celebrates the beauty and lore of stamps. A stamp is much more than the physical evidence that postage has been paid. Stamps can be miniature works of art, treasured keepsakes, and rare collectibles.
The Education & Visitor Services Department provides teachers and students with activities. Our programs foster creative thinkers and provide opportunities for developing 21st century skills.
The National Postal Museum’s virtual exhibitions galleries present America’s postal history from Colonial times to the present, through the unique lens of postal history and stamps.
The Preservation Department focuses on the preservation, rehousing, conservation and exhibit preparation of the National Postal Museum’s collection and loan objects.
Host your next historic event at the National Postal Museum. Corporations, associations, organizations and members of the general public have the opportunity to host a reception or dinner at a premier venue adjacent to highly acclaimed exhibitions.