Museums: National Postal Museum #1 (Part 1 of 3)

D.C. has a LOT of museums.  One of the out of the ordinary museums is the National Postal Museum.  The museum is part of the Smithsonian and is a worth a visit.  

The museum opened in 1993 and is located in the Main Post Office of Washington, D.C.  The building, completed in 1914, is a Beaux-Arts style building, like its neighbor Union Station.  Both the original exterior and interior of the building are beautiful and it's a great place for a museum.  

The exterior of the National Postal Museum (formerly, the Main Post Office)

The main hall of the National Postal Museum, restored to its original appearance

The main hall (pictured above) did not always look so beautiful.  In the 1950's, the building was modernized with drop ceilings and the like.  Below is a photo of the main hall after it was modernized.  All of the Beaux-Arts features were hidden from view.  

Fortunately, the original architecture was covered not destroyed.  The restoration of the building revealed its lasting beauty.

One of the museum exhibits that especially interested Greg was the mail car display.  Greg's maternal grandfather worked in a mail car, sorting mail as it was transported by railroad to and from Toledo, Ohio.  The display included an actual mail car that you could enter  Check it out.   

Note the random hottie waving from the doorway

A view of the interior of the mail car with mail bags and also boxes for sorting letters

Another view of the interior

Below is photo of the apparatus used for catching a mail bag while the train sped by a small town.  The tall pole in the foreground held the mail bag.  The armature in the background was placed over the side door of the mail car to catch the mail bag.

Of course, the transfer system was not perfect as the sign below warns.

Pop Quiz:  Who is the father of the U.S. Postal Service?

Answer: The long-haired dude pictured below.

Next Up:  Wheels up!