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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
  • The Pilots
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The Pilots

In order to transfer the operations of airmail to the Post Office Department, the POD would need pilots to fly the mail. Lipsner hired four pilots, one for each leg of the route.

Photograph of airmail pilot Max Miller
Max Miller

Learn more About Max Miller

Photograph of airmail pilot Eddie Gardner
Edward V. Gardner

Learn more About Edward V. Gardner

Photograph of airmail pilot Robert Shank
Robert Shank

Learn more About Robert Shank

Maurice Newton
Maurice Newton

Learn more About Maurice Newton

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

Related Content

The First Four Rest of the Best
‹ Benjamin B. Lipsner up Max Miller ›

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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