I LOVED this museum. There were two floors and I spent about 2 hours here. Great history and little activities to keep things interesting. There was even a table with international and domestic used stamps that you can sit at and take home 6 stamps. There is a small cute gift shop and also a post office (that was opened even on Sunday!)

I had so much fun here. A lot more than I expected. You get to learn the history of U.S. postal services, which is very interesting. On top of that, there are many interesting stamps on display throughout the exhibit. You can even search the arrives of stamps and send up to 10 to your email. You can also create your own.September 2021: the gift shop is closed.

This museum is across the street from Union Station in downtown Washington DC. Like the other Smithsonian museums in DC, its free.I never was all that interested in stamps but found this museum fascinating. They have lots of activities for children. My 6 and 2 year old grandchildren enjoyed delivering the mail and playing in the front of a truck that delivers mail.We ended up staying longer than we expected. Especially on a day with bad weather, this museum is a great place to go to.

Fantastic!!! 💌✉️📮📬😋 I honestly enjoyed the impressive exhibits in this gorgeous museum. If you love the Smithsonian, this museum is a must see. It may even inspire you to appreciate the amazing mail system a little more! Plus there are plenty of stamps to admire !!

We enjoyed our visit and could have stayed for hours perusing the exhibits on both levels of this historic building in the beaux arts style. We arrived by metro to union station, which is only steps away from this Smithsonian collection.This hidden gem museum is perfect for international travelers, nostalgia buffs and kids of all ages. See stamps of all shapes, sizes and vintages! I learned about the history of the postal service and even the pneumatic tubes that once carried 144000 letters per hour by vacuum force. My other favorite exhibits were the engineering quotes from Siemens engineers regarding OCR and other scanning technologies, the Elvis and Marilyn Monroe stamps, and the philately drawers holding rare stamps and first day issue covers.I felt a little sad about the little postal dog who was forced to wear a harness with dozens of metal tags attached.Don’t forget to take home free post cards before you exit. And pick up the scavenger hunt brochure at the entrance before you visit the exhibits!

Hot take - this is the best Smithsonian museum in DC. We visited twice because theres so much to look at. Theres a table where you can start your stamp collection for free and a really cool shop. My friend and I walked out as stamp collectors!

We had a blast! Learned a lot, delivered (pretend)mail and made our own stamp! Highly recommended for kids +6

Underrated museum. Lots LOTS of stamps. Lots of letters from different times. You can make your own stamps and email it to yourself. There was a line for that though.

This place was incredible !!! I couldnt believe how empty it was. normally I skim over displays but I felt so captivated by most of it and spent much longer in there than I had anticipated. I couldnt believe the stamp collection there! it felt like I shouldnt have been so close to them haha they were amazing and Im not even that into stamps I just think mail is cool. definitely worth a visit!

I loved this museum. Is incredible like the postal service have improved.

I am so thankful this place has reopened. I dont need drugs, I get my fix from visiting this Museum!

An absolutely gem of a museum that must be visited. Having sojourned to Washington, D.C. often over the years, I wish I had visited sooner. The museum has a lot of great information and insight about mail delivery which can all be enjoyed in less than two hours. If you are a letter writing enthusiast, its a must see; if just for the great stamps they have for sale and other goods. There are also free postcards you can send to a loved one.

Convenient chance to express mail an item on a Sunday. Especially since the following Monday was a holiday.

A fun place for the family. At the time of this writing there was a stamp-maker exhibition that was fun for the kids. The walk-through of the postal system was interesting and quick. The museum was not crowded and the staff was very friendly.

Next to the Union Station! For my surprise, it was very entertaining with a lot of information! Its worth going and expend a few hours here. Also you can go walking to other highlights of the city with no problem. Very organized and beautiful place.

As an employee of the USPS, it was nice to see so many people inside exploring the history of the Postal Service. Getting through security was tougher than TSA. lol

One of the best museums we have seen and we have been to half a dozen in the D.C. area.

So fun

I took an 8 and 10 year old here and they said was their favorite museumInteractive while explaining the history.Only disappointment was the girls created their own stamp which were to be emailed to me. Almost a week later I still have not received them.

Dont let the name fool you! This place is so cool! The tour guides really bring it to life and the exhibits are new and very well done and interactive. Great for kids! Be sure to meet Owney the well traveled US Mail mascot!

This was such an unexpected surprise! We checked out this museum on a whim and had a fantastic time. My son loved the interactive exhibits and getting to pick out his own stamps. His favorite was driving the truck. It was quiet in there and we had almost the whole place to ourselves. Would go back again next time we are in DC.

This museum is out and away from the national mall. A Smithsonian museum with all the great things youd expect. Wonderfully big atrium filled with modes of transport, surrounded by rooms of the postal history. Everything was clear, good for children. The upper floor had more details on the stamps themselves and an impeccable archive of varied stamps. Im not into stamps, but I found the history very interesting.

I really enjoyed this museum! There was a lot of interesting information presented in very creative ways. I, especially, enjoyed all of the interactive activities. Theres also a post office within the museum, so I was able to buy and mail a postcard from the museum!

Incredible museum! Well designed exhibits. Beautiful interior. Extremely interesting. Lots of fun for all ages!

Only went to the national postal museum because it was next to a union station. I was blown away by how fascinating this museum is. You will learn about how the post office evolved in delivery methods, the impact it had with those out west, mail fraud, stories about the postal system, and much more.

A meticulously organized massive collection of old stamps and documents from centuries ago. Starting from mail correspondence of a silk road merchants to how the modern US-mail got shaped and sacrifices were made along the way. Footprint of the museum is not big, but it can be easily a full day visit.

Weve been called some of the lucky few by greeters at the castle for visiting this museum and they are right! Do not miss the free docent led tour, especially if you arent an avid stamp historian (which I am not), they tell amazing stories that bring the history of postage to life. I love to send happy its not your birthday letters and now Im going to value the delivery of my missives even more! For every time I dreamed of sealing myself in a box and floating to my grandparents in Honolulu it was especially fun to see someone else had the same thought!

This was definitely a treat for those who collect or interested in history of stamps. we saw the inverted Jenny, probably the most famous error stamp.

I was not sure what to expect when visiting the museum, but I have to say I was pleasantly suprised. The displays regarding the history were very interesting and well presented. The facility is stunning! I have never seen so many stamps! It was cool to connect with something that Ive been fascinated with since I was a child. The care put into preserving and sharing this part of American history is truly impressive. I earned a new appreciation for the postal service after my visit.

A fun stop for adult or child. Lots of hands on things for kids ... mail sorting and more. A great activity board for kids ... our 10y/o loved it! Great tribute to the postal system and their development and service through the years. It took us awhile to find ... but this is the museum!

I was surprised by how large this Museum actually is! On the outside, it doesnt seem to be that big, considering it shares the building with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but it has quite a few galleries with lots of marvelous objects.

Its a small museum, but theres plenty to do and to see and their gift shop has some interesting finds (e.g., first edition Disney and Harry Potter stamps) and other local memorabilia that make great gifts. Great for families with small kids. You can also design your own stamp and start your own collection for free.

From outside this looks like just a regular and nicely maintained building. But once inside i was quite pleasantly surprised as there is quite a lot to see.

I think this is a generally underrated Smithsonian museum, as it is further out of the way than many of the other museums. But it is extremely kid-friendly, has great staff, and shows a pretty important part of American history. Whether you’re a stamp-collector or not, I’m sure you’ll find the exhibits showing how stamps portrayed monumental American Advances inspiring, or the gallery on the evolution of the postal systems from the Pony Express to Air Mail interesting. A couple other plusses about the location: it is close to Union Station and Chinatown, both of which can be quick lunch stops before or after you go; it is also near the Georgetown Law School, which can be packed into a visit as well.

A surprising find - we were at Union Station and only had an hour left, this museum is right across the street. Very kid-friendly, a cool aircraft and pony express display, and interactive exhibits.

I had an impromptu visit when passing the museum around 3:30pm and figured why not, all the museums will close soon and Im already here. I was plesantly surprised, looking at stamps from all over the world, the collection of stamps in American history, and the downstairs was great! I always wondered how the mail got sorted through so quickly, and seeing the different postal delivery vehicles throughout time was neat!

A far more interesting visit than I wouldve thought. Loved the history, interactivity, and architecture of the postal museum. Especially enjoyed learning about the unofficial mascot Owney and all of his adventures. A must see

Great museum for the family. Fun scavenger hunt to complete. Original artifacts and detailed history of the USPS including the first stamp howntheybwere made and hownmail evolved.

Right across from Union Station. The exhibits are interesting with many being hands on. The architecture is beautiful.

Love it...awesome place for kids to explore...Remember kids section is one floor down...than main floor...they have big truck parked where kids can enter...and also exploratory route for post shown as cave....and guess what its completely free..

We absolutely loved the National Postal Museum!! Its really amazing all of the things they have in this museum! If you go to DC the Postal Museum is a must see.

Guided free tours are very informative. There are things to see for adults and children. Exhibits are well designed with interactive components and clear descriptions. It’s very close to Union Station if you have time to kill before you train. You can buy stamps here, even on Sunday.

A big shame that the museum store wasnt open. Also, the change machine was also down, so I couldnt get change for the commemorative coins.

Loved it it was very interesting and being a postal worker it just show how much relay go in to every pice of mail that you get in your mail box

The Postal Museum is likely my all time favourite museum with Air and Space right behind it. Growing up I was always fascinated by the USPS so to be able to go inside the museum anytime I want (when theyre open of course!) and go around into the exhibits then drop a postcard off into the post in the same place, it makes me very happy.Its super informative, a typically quieter place than most, and overall calming.

Not only is this museum in an architectural gem of a building, it tells a fascinating story about the founding of our postal service, and how it adopts new technology to meet the demand of moving tangible items (letters, books, newspapers, and parcels) across the country and the world.This is a great museum for kids. Its filled with interactive displays. And like other Smithsonian Museums, its free.

One of the most underrated gems in the Smithsonian collection! Also, this one is second, only to Air and Space, if youre looking to keep kids interested.

Nicely made, informative, interactive museum. Light themes and historical artifacts make it easy on the brain. Can see most of it in about 90 minutes. You could spend 3 hours if you are extra fascinated by stamps. Not the crown jewel of the Smithsonian institute but worth a trip for persons who have done a lot in DC and looking for something new.

Happened upon this great little gem! You should stop by Just to be fascinated by the evolution of the mail delivery system.

AWSOME MUSEUM. I managed to go here with my 1st friends and I saw a ton of really cool stamps. Much better then the National Air and Space museum

Allow at least 3 hours while visiting this museum. Extra perk: there was a free give away of old canceled stamps and several new postcards.

I lovee this one. It’s very cute

Pretty informative although several exhibition rooms closed during a holiday period

A huge museum that was surprisingly fascinating!

Fantastic museum! This is one of our family favourites in DC. It isnt as well known, and is kind of a hidden gem. My children thought it was fun sorting and scanning (play) packages. My teen even enjoyed the museum, and I did as well. Its great for all ages. The building is beautiful, and the museum isnt as busy as the more popular ones. Its also free admission, just as many museums are in DC.

Will need to come back once covid is over to explore the areas that were closed.

Museum describes both history through the post stamps and the history of post delivery. Take couple hours to dive into the history of USA.

This was a great museum. The family really enjoyed it. It is very well organized and strategically laid out. We were able to seen one of the original stamps from 1840s and many other rare stamps from around the world. They even had a free stamp collection where you could select 6 stamps to start your collection. This was an interesting process and kept the group busy.They had a section on the history of how the mail delivery has improved over the years. Adding zip codes, sorting and automated processing. There were a number of hands on activities to do. There were many other areas as well - vehicles for mail delivery, history of the mail delivery as the United States expanded in the 1800s.One of the neat history facts was of the lone mascot that traveled the country. The USPS employees made him their own. You need to see it to get all of the details. You will be able to spend a number of hours in this museum. Enjoy!

Enjoyable visit. Great for the whole family. It was not crowded, even on a weekend. The displays were engaging and interesting. There was a place to write a postcard and then purchace stamps to mail it.

Really cool museum. They have artifacts one would never think of like a full mail criminal history section that includes stuff from the Anthrax incidents as well as the Unabomber artifacts.The stamp collection is epic and entertaining. The only downside here is security is super slow and limited in numbers, but I would definitely recommend this museum for anyone, families included.

To me this was the best designed (experience wise) museum in the national mall area. I would suggest curious to take a look at it. Kids would love the museum. Pro tip: you could take 6 stamps from across the world as a free gift here.

I loved it!! I am a postal worker so I am probably more interested than most people😉 . It really is a cool museum

Very interesting and informative exhibits.

This is a great, colorful, interactive, educational museum like all the Smithsonian buildings, but it is on the other side of town next to Union Station. It is worth the extra time to visit and learn about how our country developed and still does to this day on the postal system.

Very good for kids to know the old way of mail communication

Nice chronicle of development of postal system in United States.

Who doesnt love mail? This is great history on an overlooked but important societal institution!

The National Postal Museum is the hidden gem in the Smithsonian family of museums. Truly focused on telling relevant stories with exhibits and activities for all ages. Set in an historic building with a post office built right in!

What a great gem hidden in plain sight. Located right next to Union Station, the National Postal Museum is jam packed with kinds of neat postal artifacts. Need to go back and explore more.

Very nice, but very sad

The steak ppl we soaked Marshalls pancake with wood alcohol and drugs free none of the other guys and carpet cleaner and carpet tacks

Very interesting history of the postal service with things for kids to interact with along with great stamp collection and ideas for collecting on your own.

WENT WITH ME 1ST FRIENDS NOT ABSOLUTE GARBAGE VERY GOOD.

Overlooked, but worth a look. Ok, so that said, wow! Literally - suspended airplanes, trains (you can walk through) and automobiles together with much more in this spacious two story museum. The history of written communication / stamps / postage / air-mail / taxation is more in depth than anyone may passively realize. The museum offers lots of tactile interaction, free items ( stamps /postcards) but the staff make it a place to visit - nice goes a long way anywhere. Go. If nothing else, read about the start of Airmail and learn about the flyers who made it possible and marvel at what we now take for granted . Truly impressive.

Great, small musuem that is easy to navigate. There is a small gift shop inside, plus areas with interactive exhibits, mail letters/postcards, and see the stamp collection...and make your own stamp!

Best museum around.

This was my favorite museum in DC. Very well organized. The tour guide had great info and was very friendly. There were lots of hands on activities for our kids too.

Great place to learn the history of the postal service.

Was very good and kind of difficult to find a place where to park, other wise excellent.

Wow. This museum was more than I expected. Lots of history and really neat exhibits and information.

A super kid friendly Museum! A lot of interactive areas for kids including free post card table in the main floor! If you send the post card there, there is a special edition cancellation. Nothing better than hand written in this internet world.

Ive lived near DC all my life but never realized there was a Postal Museum. I went on a weekday so our wasnt crowded. The exhibits were pretty interesting. I mean really... stamps... post office...Ive passed this place so many times and finally decided to go in. Ill be taking the family there later to help the little ones practice reading. Two levels. And I think there is food inside, if not there are definitely food trucks right outside. Would recommend visiting, it may surprise you.

Lot of Postal history to learn here, dont miss the free tour

I personally was not too interested in the exhibits. I think the staff is enthusiastic though.

This is a wonderful place to visit; especially if you are a history buff.

One of my favourite DC museums! Card making workshops are so fun.

Lots to see. Stamps are small 😉

Free museum and fun for the kids

Shows how the Post Office was crucial in providing communications during the development of the U.S.

Awesome place to learn about the history of American Postal Services.

Better than we thought and great for kids.

Their tile is in letter pattern! One of my favorite Smithsonian museums

A hidden gem in Washington, DC. A spectacular place to visit with kids and adults. Something for everyone.

Hidden gem usually means anything but a gem but in this case it fits. This museum really is interesting and close to The Mall its a must see if you are there anyway.

Who knew you can enjoy a postal museum so much. Very interesting, lots of information and of course stamps, lots of stamps. Go check it out and meet Owney, the coolest dog!

Hidden gem of DC. Not as flashy as some of the other museums but the items inside are awesome.

Great 1 hour tour

Very nice ad enjoyable museum! Great learning place to learn how mail men do their job, history and funny postcards ppl did as project. They have souvenir sleeve if you buy stamps next to the gift shop.

The Museum is very interesting with a number of displays that recreate the atmosphere of the Pony Express and other early innovative mail delivery options. Coming originally from the UK I was interested to learn how 18th Century mail delivery in Britain was subject to the mail being read and how important the privacy of communications was to the founding fathers. There are some quite stunning aeroplanes on show and other vehicles.

My favorite of the Smithsonian Museums. Very interactive, activities for all ages.