Tag Archives: National Postal Museum

June 22, 2023 · 2:51 pm

Get Ready for the Guest Artist Program at the National Postal Museum!

 

Stamp artists have the extremely challenging task of depicting the shared history, culture, and beliefs of an entire nation on a one-inch square piece of paper. They work to find the perfect balance between the countless perspectives and experiences of the American people with their individual artistic visions.

This summer, you can join National Postal Museum and artist John Parra, as they examine a collection of themes illustrated in his original stamp designs and illustrations. Whether you are interested in John’s design process, his artistic inspirations, or his interest in examining Hispanic heritage on postage stamps, there is undoubtedly a program that will interest a variety of art lovers!

Programs will take place throughout the summer, both online and in person, the first one happening next Wednesday, June 28, at 7pm over Zoom.  During that session, join John Parra and USPS Art Director Antonio Alcalá for  ¡Delicioso!: Designing Latino Food Stamps, a conversation about the stamp design process that they used in 2017 when working on the ¡Delicioso! series together.   All ages are welcome to join, and there is no cost to register.

Mark your calendar, too, for the first in-person program: Spanish is the Language of My Family Book Festival will take place  at the National Postal Museum on Saturday, July 15, 11am – 4pm.  Enjoy a family-friendly book festival following the release of Spanish is the Language of My Family, written by Michael Genhart and illustrated by John Parra. Festivities will include tons of fun games, interesting crafts, and entertaining live music for the whole family! This event is free, and no advanced registration is required.

See what else is coming up in the Guest Artist Program this summer! (We’ll keep you updated, too.)

Guest Artist Program
Where: National Postal Museum | 2 Mass Ave NE & Online
When: Throughout the summer
Admission: FREE!

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This post is sponsored by the National Postal Museum, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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April 25, 2023 · 11:43 am

Catch a Day of Fun at the National Postal Museum’s Baseball Family Festival!

 

Swing into the 2023 baseball season with Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum this Saturday, April 29, as they present a special Baseball Family Festival highlighting a recently opened exhibition!

Baseball: America’s Home Run explores our national pastime through a unique, postal lens. Using material from the National Postal Museum’s collection; original stamp art from the United States Postal Service; and artifacts loaned by other Smithsonian museums, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and private collectors, this exhibition explores the surprising ways that baseball and postal history have been deeply intertwined since the early twentieth century.

The Baseball Family Festival will offer fun for all ages with activity stations, crafts, music, and virtual author readings. In-person American Sign Language interpretation will be provided for the author readings.

  • Baseball Bingo: Check off the activities you complete on a bingo card in the event program. and claim a prize (while supplies last) for completing any row of three!
  • Play Ball: Practice pitching, batting, and running the bases in the Historic Lobby using plastic bats and beach balls.
  • Baseball Stamp Puzzles: Flex your puzzles skills with postage stamp puzzles of famous baseball players.
  • Baseball Sewing Activity: Craft a baseball  by sewing together two small paper plates with yarn.
  • Make Your Own Pennant/Stamp: Design your own postage stamp and sports pennant.
  • Tattoos & Trivia: Display your baseball pride with a temporary tattoo and test your baseball knowledge.
  • Book Corner: Explore baseball history with a wide variety of baseball-themed children’s books.
  • Virtual author readings and Q&A: At 1pm, Barb Rosenstock will read her book The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio Became America’s Hero and at 3pm, Rob Skead will read his book Something to Prove: The Great Satchel Paige vs. Rookie Joe DiMaggio.  These will take place on Zoo, and both will answer questions afterwards.

There will also be activities from the museum partners, the National Museum of American History and National Portrait Gallery. Explore the role that Latinos have played in the history of baseball with hands-on crafts and real objects from the American History’s exhibit Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues/En los barrios y las grandes ligas. And guests can try on baseball uniform pieces and pose like a baseball player for an instant portrait to use for making a baseball trading card.

Of course, be sure to visit the Baseball: America’s Home Run exhibit and tour the rest of the National Postal Museum, a KFDC favorite for all ages — read more about it here and here!

Baseball Family Festival
Where: National Postal Museum | 2 Massachusetts Ave NE, DC
When: Saturday, April 29, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but reserve a spot!

 

This post is sponsored by the National Postal Museum, however, I only promote programs, events, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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November 30, 2022 · 8:02 pm

Super Stamps and the Season of Giving at the National Postal Museum this Saturday!

 

At this time of year, there are so many family activities featuring twinkling lights, holiday treats, and more ways to indulge in the season.  This weekend, the National Postal Museum is hosting a holiday event that’s a little different, one that focuses on giving back.  On Saturday, December 3, join them for Super Stamps and the Season of Giving, a day of performances and hands-on activities that explore the themes of community action and caring for others.

From 11am – 4pm, there will be a variety of activities for all ages throughout the museum, plus live musical performances by Milkshake Duo!

  • Design Your Own Semipostal Stamp: Use stamp templates and drawing materials to design a semipostal stamp supporting a cause of their choosing.
  • Museum Challenge: Find examples of  kindness and caring in the museum
  • Semipostal Mosaics: Help complete large mosaics of the four featured semipostal designs.
  • See Me at the Smithsonian Art Activity from the National Portrait Gallery.
  • Kindness Counts activity from the National Museum of American History.
  • Creature Conservation Connections: Creative activities from the National Zoo.
  • Focus on STEM: Smithsonian Science Education Center will lead activities that highlight changing the world through STEM.
  • Marine Animal Conservation activity from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
  • Greetings of Gratitude: Card-making to send messages of support and gratitude to deployed military service members.
  • National Guard : Explore the history of major National Guard units and how they have served communities.

Check out the full day’s schedule here.  And plan to  join the National Postal Museum for this all-ages event and learn more about how you can help support positive social change during the season of giving! Read more about the wonderful museum in this KFDC post and this one.

Super Stamps and the Season of Giving
Where: National Postal Museum | 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
When: Saturday, December 3, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

 

This post is sponsored by the National Postal Museum, however, I only promote programs, events, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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August 2, 2022 · 7:40 am

Music & Stamps Family Day at the National Postal Museum this Saturday!

 

Save the date for this coming Saturday, August 6!  The National Postal Museum is hosting its first in-person Family Day in over two years — and if it’s anything like its pre-pandemic events, it’s sure to be a festive, well organized, and super fun time.

The United States Postal Service recently issued a series of five postage stamps depicting mariachi musicians. Designed by the Postal Museum’s Guest Artist, Rafael Lopez, the stamps joyfully celebrate the vibrant colors and sounds of mariachi music and Mexican culture.

This weekend, you can join Rafael for Music & Stamps Family Day, a celebration of Latinx music and the new mariachi stamps.  He’ll be at the museum leading visitors through stories, musical performances, crafts, and games.

Keeping visitor comfort in mind, a Take-A-Break space will be available throughout the program for anyone who needs to step away from the festivities. And, of course, the rest of the museum is fantastic to explore — I’ve always recommended it as an especially great one with young children.

Music & Stamps Family Day
Where: National Postal Museum | 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, DC
When: Saturday, August 6, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

 

This post is sponsored by the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

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June 23, 2022 · 3:02 pm

A Virtual Program for Kids on Diversity Awareness with Guest Artist Rafael Lopez & Guest Author Sonia Sotomayor

 

What does disability mean? Do you or does someone you know have a specific disability? Guest Artist Rafael Lopez will lead elementary school students in a virtual program that discusses the history of disability representation on US postage stamps. From Albert Einstein to Lou Gehrig, children will learn more about the many individuals with disabilities that have been honored on a commemorative stamp, as well as the ways—both positive and negative—disabilities have been portrayed by the United States Postal Service. Participants will get to discuss with Rafael and the author of Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You, Sonia Sotomayor, what their personal experiences with disabilities have been.

Learn more and register.

 

This post is paid for by the National Postal Museum, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

 

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