Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

The Madden Family Letters

A collection of letters trace the history of an African American family from Virginia through 5 generations (1740-1992).

July 30, 1993 – September 10, 1994

Postal Museum

Gems of Hawaii: The Honolulu Advertiser Collection

This exhibition of rare stamps traces the history of the Hawaiian Kingdom, its rulers, and the political change that swept the territory in the 19th century.

July 29, 1994 – October 16, 1994

Postal Museum

Best Wishes: Holiday Greetings from the White House

This special holiday display features Christmas cards from the first families beginning with the Eisenhower administration to 1995.

November 28, 1994 – April 23, 1995

Postal Museum

Philatelic Rarities

See 15 selected historic philatelic items from the 18th to the 20th centuries.

October 24, 1994 – October 20, 1995

Postal Museum

Moving America's Growing Mail

Explore the U.S. Postal Service's automotive fleet in the 20th century, including a long-life vehicle and a mail jeep.

July 30, 1993 – January 1, 1996

Postal Museum

Unwelcome: Moritz Schoenberger and the S.S. St. Louis

Letters, documents, and photographs tell the story of Moritz Schoenberger, a Holocaust survivor who traveled aboard the S.S. St. Louis with Jewish refugees in 1939.

September 15, 1994 – April 10, 1996

Postal Museum

From Nashville With Love: Tennessee Rarities from the Jeanette Cantrell Rudy Collection

Rare stamps and covers reflect the history and culture of the state of Tennessee.

November 7, 1995 – July 8, 1996

Postal Museum

The Graceful Envelope (1996)

These 40 uniquely designed, hand-crafted envelopes, submitted by professional calligraphers from around the world, illustrate different calligraphic methods and styles.

May 1, 1996 – October 6, 1996

Postal Museum

Japanese Rarities

This exhibition features rare Japanese philatelic items from the Christenson collection.

April 30, 1996 – October 20, 1996

Postal Museum

Fakes and Forgeries

Examine philatelic items that have been counterfeited, faked, or forged to defraud the Postal Service or unsuspecting collectors.

February 9, 1996 – October 20, 1996

Postal Museum

The Jenny Class Reunion

This exhibition reunites more than 20 of the 1918 Inverted Jenny stamps.

July 30, 1996 – October 30, 1996

Postal Museum

Chess Stamps

This topical display features stamps that share the theme of chess, including stamps depicting famous chess world champions and traditional chess pieces.

October 21, 1996 – December 15, 1996

Postal Museum

More American Stamps

See commemorative and definitive stamps issued in the United States between 1977 and 1995.

September 29, 1995 – April 10, 1997

Postal Museum

Letters of a New Republic: The American Post from the Colonial Era to the Early National Period

Mail covers -- some franked by important people of the day -- illustrate mail carried in America by British and American Posts.

November 24, 1996 – April 15, 1997

Postal Museum

Are We There Yet? Vacationing in America

Take a whimsical look at American-style vacationing through this display of 25 postcards from popular destinations and tourist spots.

May 12, 1995 – April 20, 1997

Postal Museum

Ties That Bind: The Newcomers' Experience

This small collection of letters, photos, and related objects examines the relationship between American immigrants and their families.

October 11, 1996 – May 1, 1997

Postal Museum

An Historic Collection from the French Revolution and Napoleonic Era

See pre-stamp letters and historic documents that trace the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon.

December 8, 1995 – May 15, 1997

Postal Museum

Winners of the 1997-1998 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest

The 50 state winners of the 1997-1998 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest are on view.

July 11, 1997 – July 30, 1997

Postal Museum

Stamps & Stories

Discover interesting facts behind the creation of 6 individual stamps.

October 21, 1996 – September 11, 1997

Postal Museum

More American Stamps

See commemorative and definitive stamps issued in the United States between 1988 and 1996.

April 1, 1997 – September 16, 1997

Postal Museum

The Graceful Envelope (1997)

Hand-crafted envelopes submitted by professional calligraphers from around the world feature a range of calligraphic methods and styles.

May 23, 1997 – October 4, 1997

Postal Museum

Maps on Stamps

See more than 100 U.S. and foreign stamps featuring portions of the world's geography, including oceans, countries, and states.

September 15, 1995 – October 15, 1997

Postal Museum

The First Federal Postage Stamp Issue

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first U.S. postage stamps, on view are the 5-cent and 10-cent federal stamps, original documents, covers from the stamps' early history, and die proofs.

June 27, 1997 – January 12, 1998

Postal Museum

Reinventing Government: The Transformation of America's Postal System

Editorial cartoons and contemporary accounts shed light on the events surrounding the 1971 Postal Reform Act, which transformed the Post Office Department, then a federal agency, into the United States Postal Service.

July 1, 1996 – March 13, 1998

Postal Museum

A Far Distant Land: Letters from the Mexican War

Letters from Lt. William McKean to his family in Arkansas describe his experiences in the Mexican War (1847-1848).

October 5, 1997 – May 4, 1998

Postal Museum