National Postal Museum Launches “Lost Symbol” Featured Collection

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has published another unique exhibit on its award-winning Web site Arago, “The Lost Symbol on U.S. Postage Stamps,” inspired by Dan Brown’s latest novel, “The Lost Symbol.”

Brown’s riveting mystery-adventure, set in Washington, D.C., carries readers to the depths and heights of national monuments and buildings, many of which appear on U.S. postage stamps, including the Washington Monument, Capitol building, Library of Congress and the Smithsonian’s Castle.

This exhibit also includes the stamps that honor 14 U.S. presidents who were Masons, such as George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

Arago is dedicated to the online presentation of the museum’s vast collections and contains high-resolution images and associated stories presented by curators, expert volunteer researchers, museum staff and guest writers. Since the image of a woman first appeared on a U.S. postage stamp in 1893, the U.S. Postal Service has represented female politicians, social activists, educators, artists, business women and performers on more than 200 stamps.

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., in the Old City Post Office Building across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information visit the museum’s Web site at postalmuseum.si.edu.

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