National Postal Museum Commemorates the 235th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill with an Online Featured Exhibit

To mark the 235th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has posted an online exhibit, “Onward to Victory: American Military History between 

1775–1913 through Stamps & Postal History,” showcasing major events in American military history from the start of the American Revolution up to the beginning of World War I.

The Postal Museum’s celebration centers on the 235th anniversary of the June 17, 1775, Battle of Bunker Hill, located near Boston, which was the first engagement of the Revolutionary War between British and American soldiers. Although the British eventually captured the American position, it was only after suffering more than twice the casualties of the American side.

Every major American military conflict since the American Revolution can be interpreted through a variety of postal-history objects, including letters, envelopes, postal stamps and other documents that help visitors more fully understand the circumstances that define events throughout American military history. The exhibit can be viewed at http://postalmuseum.si.edu/Arago/OnwardsToVictory1.

The National Postal Museum is devoted to presenting the colorful and engaging history of the nation’s mail service and showcasing one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of stamps and philatelic material in the world. It is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C., across from Union Station. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). For more information about the Smithsonian, please call (202) 633-1000 or TTY (202) 633-5285. Visit the museum website at www.postalmuseum.si.edu.

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