National Postal Museum
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[[Image:National postal museum.jpg|thumb|right|The National Postal Museum is located in the City Post Office Building, built in 1914, which also houses the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] and a local [[United States Postal Service|post office]].]]
:''See also [[The British Postal Museum & Archive]], formerly known as the National Postal Museum.''
The '''National Postal Museum''', located in [[Washington, D.C.]], [[USA]], was established through joint agreement between the [[United States Postal Service]] and the [[Smithsonian Institution]] and opened in 1993. The museum is located across the street from [[Union Station (Washington, DC)|Union Station]], in the [[Postal Square Building|building that once served as the Main Post Office]] of [[Washington, D.C.]] from 1914, when it was constructed, until 1986. The building was designed by the [[Graham and Burnham]] {{ref|architect}} architectural firm, which was led by [[Ernest R. Graham (architect)|Ernest Graham]] following the death of [[Daniel Burnham]] in 1912.
The museum houses many interactive displays about the history of the United States Postal Service and of mail service around the world. Also on display is a vast collection of [[postage stamp|stamps]]. The museum houses a gift shop and a separate stamp shop, along with exhibits on the [[Pony Express]], the use of [[railroad]]s with the mail, and even an exhibit on [[direct marketing]] called, "What's in the Mail for You," that produces a souvenir envelope with your name printed on it and a coupon for the gift shop. As a Smithsonian museum, admission is free.
The building also serves as the headquarters of the [[United States Department of Labor]]'s [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]].
==References==
<div class="references-small">
#{{note|architect}} Weeks, Christopher. (1994) ''AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (3rd Edition)'', Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0-8018-4713-3.</div>
==See also==
* [[List of philatelic libraries]]
==External links==
* [http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/ National Postal Museum official website]
*[http://www.arago.si.edu/ Arago: People, Postage & the Post]
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{{Template:Smithsonian museums}}
[[Category:Smithsonian Institution]]
[[Category:Museums in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:American national museums|Postal Museum]]
[[Category:United States Postal Service]]
[[Category:Registered Historic Places in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington]]
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[[fr:National Postal Museum (Washington)]]
[[nl:National Postal Museum]]