National Postal Museum to Host Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum and D.C. LEARNs invite visitors of all ages to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the museum’s atrium. Visitors will experience the richness, vibrancy and diversity of Hispanic heritage at the event, where they can learn Latin dances, create works of art and discover the power of words.

The U.S. Postal Service issued a set of four stamps entitled “Bailemos/Let’s Dance” that inspired the day’s activities. The stamps were created by Latino artists and highlight four popular forms of Latin dance—salsa, cha-cha-cha, meringue and mambo—through a vivid visual interpretation. Event participants will be encouraged to try the dances and reflect on the artists’ thoughts as they were creating the artwork for the stamps.

Internationally acclaimed salsa dancer and producer Eileen Torres will demonstrate and teach Latin dance to participants. Stations and reading booths will showcase the art and literature of Hispanic American culture. Visitors will also have an opportunity to create their own stamp design.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information on the “Bailemos/Let’s Dance” stamps, visit the USPS Web site at www.usps.com.

D.C. LEARNs is a literacy coalition dedicated to raising the quality of literary services to Washington, D.C., residents. Through its members, volunteers and resources, D.C. LEARNs continues to foster and promote literacy and education in neighboring communities. For more information, visit the D.C. LEARNs Web site at dclearns.org.

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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