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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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    Visit »

    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.

    street map of Postal museum

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Birth of an Industry
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  • Birth of an Industry
  • Flying the Mail
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Flying the Mail

Photograph of airmail plane at College Park, MD
Max Miller takes off on the civilian Airmail Service's first flight.

With the preparations for the Post Office Department's new Airmail Service in place, the flights of the established Washington-New York route began. However, plans to scout new routes were already being made.

Airmail schedule dispatch board
Washington-New York

Learn more About Washington-New York

Letter permitting Airmail Service use of grounds
Chicago

Learn more About Chicago

Western Union Telegram
Miller's Trip

Learn more About Miller's Trip

Telegram from Praeger on September 5, 1918
Gardner's Trip

Learn more About Gardner's Trip

Western Union Telegram
The Return Trip

Learn more About The Return Trip

Pilot Eddie Gardner's goggle storage case
Chicago Analysis

Learn more About Chicago Analysis

Photograph of airmail plane at Chicago
The High Road to the Pacific

Learn more About The High Road to the Pacific

Birth of an Industry

  • The Army
  • Otto Praeger
  • Benjamin B. Lipsner
  • The Pilots
    • Max Miller
      • Miller: The Tragedy of the JL-6
    • Edward V. Gardner
      • Gardner: Tragedy of the Barnstorming Lifestyle
    • Robert Shank
      • Shank: A Long Life
    • Maurice Newton
      • Newton: No Compensation
  • Aircraft Used by the US Airmail Service
    • JN-4H
    • DH-4
    • JR-1B
  • Unsuccessful Aircraft
    • Handley Page
    • MB-1
    • JL-6
  • Flying the Mail
    • Washington-New York
    • Chicago
    • Miller's Trip
    • Gardner's Trip
    • The Return Trip
    • Chicago Analysis
    • The High Road to the Pacific
  • Lipsner vs. Praeger
    • Chicago
    • The Post, Coast to Coast
  • Harding Ends US Airmail
  • Outline
‹ JL-6 up Washington-New York ›

HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Visit »

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.

street map of Postal museum

Learn more
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Owney, the Railway Mail Service Mascot

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