Exhibitions

The Art of Cards and Letters

July 30, 1993 – June 6, 2011

National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Washington, DC

Lower Level

See on Map Floor Plan

While other galleries focus on mail service, this gallery emphasizes the art of letter writing, a cherished art form providing a window into history. Used to relate personal stories of survival, success, and tragedy, letters are displayed in the following categories:

  • Mail Call: Through an array of wartime correspondence from World War I to Desert Storm, as well as objects and a video, this section highlights the struggle of soldiers and their loved ones to maintain ties during war.
  • Undercover: The Evolution of the American Envelope: Six patent models from 1849-1879, illustrations, and stories of the inventors examine the evolution of envelope manufacturing in the mid-1900s.