The Week Ahead…& Photo Essay – Postal Museum Part I
by Larry Janezich
Posted Sunday, October 11, 2026
Photo Essay: The National Postal Museum, Part I
Here’s a photo of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum from the west end of Union Station’s portico. The museum is located in the historic City Post Office Building which was Washington’s post office from 1914 through 1986. With 5.9 million items, the museum houses one of the largest and most significant stamp and postal history collections in the world.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Here’s a view of the ornate lobby as you enter the building.
Here’s the entrance to the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery—the largest stamp gallery in the world. Gross is a major benefactor of the museum and donated $12 million to build the Gallery named after him, as well donation his collection.
One of the gems on display in the Gallery is one of the world’s first postage stamps. Great Britain issued the Penny Black on May 1, 1840. 68,808,000 Penny Black stamps were printed; an estimated 1.3 million are in existence today.
A more familiar stamp on display is the famous 24 cent Inverted Jenny issued on May 10, 1918. The printing error escaped quality control and only one sheet of 100 stamps with the plane upside down has ever been found. In a 2023 auction purchase of one of the stamps cost the buyer in excess of $2 million.
Here’s the escalator from the lobby down to the lower level and exhibits of historical artifacts of the US Postal service operations and delivery systems, as well as the museum gift shop. (For photos, see next weekend’s The Week Ahead.)
The Week Ahead….
Monday, October 12
Federal Holiday
Tuesday, October 13
ANC6B will hold a hybrid meeting at 7:00pm
Meeting location will be 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE; First Floor (entry adjacent to Trader Joe’s).
- For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6b.org /
Among items on the Draft Agenda: TBA
ANC7D will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm
- For info on how to access the meeting, go here: https://anc7d.dc.gov/event/anc-7d-virtual-meeting-0
Among items on the draft agenda:
DC Government Community Updates
- Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Districts 1, 5 and 6
- Office of Wendell Felder, Ward 7
- Eboni-Rose Thompson, Ward 7 Representative, State Board of Education
- Mayor’s Office of Community Relations & Services
Other DC Government and Community Presentations
- DC Department of Energy and Environment
- Kingman/Heritage Islands Development Project
- DC Department of Transportation
- Bridge 87 and Southbound Kenilworth Ave Projects
Commissioner SMD Reports 10 minutes
Community Comments
- Opportunity for residents, businesses and other organizations to share information about community activities 1-2 min each
Commission Business Items
Proposed Committee Motions
- (Alcoholic Beverage Licensing): ANC 7D to protest the renewal of “Class B” license for Thomas & Sons Market at 3425 Benning Road, NE unless a Settlement Agreement is reached prior to the protest deadline.
- Alcoholic Beverage Licensing): ANC 7D to protest the renewal of a “Class B” Retailer License for Convenience & Carry Out at 1601 Benning Road, NE unless a Settlement Agreement is reached prior to the protest deadline
- (Zoning): 205 15th St NE Board of Zoning Adjustment Application for the Special Exceptions from the rear yard requirements of and the lot occupancy requirements to construct a two-story rear addition, to an existing, semidetached, two-story plus basement, principal dwelling unit in the RF-1 zone.
- Transportation): ANC 7D to send a letter to DDOT and the DDOT Public Space Committee expressing support for a driveway curb cut for 4420 Douglas St, NE.
- ANC 7D to provide comments and/or a Resolution in writing to the DC Council on PR-26-0810 “The Robert F. Kennedy Campus Master Plan Approval Resolution of 2026” and accompanying Master Plan [proposal, circa September 24, 2026].
- ANC 7D to provide comments, a Resolution and/or testimony on “Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Functions Modernization Amendment Act of 2026” and “Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Payment Modernization Act of 2026.”
Wednesday, October 14
ANC6C will hold a virtual meeting at 7:00pm.
For info on how to join the meeting, go here: https://anc6c.org/hot-topics/
Among items on the draft agenda:
2027 budget—vote needed as per OANC at end of this meeting
September monthly report
Community announcements
Commissioner announcements
DC agency informational announcements
Other community announcements/public comment
Consent agenda
Transportation and Public Space Committee
- DDOT Notice of intent: Installation of a contra-flow bike lane along 400-700 blocks of 7th Street NE
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee
- 311 F Street NE, Bureau of Zoning Adjustment Application or a special exception from lot occupancy requirements to construct a two-story accessory building at the rear of an existing three-story flat
Plenary discussion
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee
- Draft letter concerning infrastructure improvements—Encouragement to developers to install infrastructure (such as sewer lines under alleys) that promotes construction of additional housing
- Alcohol and Cannabis Licensing Committee
- Giant Food, 300 H Street NE, ABRA-091952, renewal, class B full-service grocery
- Whole Foods, 600 H Street NE, ABRA-104505, renewal, class B full-service grocery
Vote on 2027 Budget
Capitol Hill Corner Would Also Like You to Know About:
Monday, October 12
Capitol Hill Cajun Dance – 2nd Mondays: October 12 • 7–9 PM.
Wood floor. Open Band. Free admission.
Donations and snacks welcome.
Location: Hill Center 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Benjamin Drummond Hall (first floor). Metered parking on Penn, or free two blocks away at Shirley Chisholm Elementary School (10th & G SE). Contact: Joel Bailes, rollingpiano@gmail.com Upcoming events: 11/9, 12/14
Wednesday, October 14
Hill Center Event
Film: Athens: Birth of Democracy – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – $12.00
The extraordinary rise and eventual collapse of democracy in ancient Greece.
For more info and to register, go here: https://bit.ly/4hXNkqv
Friday, October 16
Hill Center Event
Stone Room Concerts Featuring Modern Folk/Americana band Buffalo Rose
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$23.00
For more, and to purchase tickets, go here: https://bit.ly/4yjeOwX
Also:
You Can Now Dispose of Batteries at Eastern Market
Ward 6 residents can now find battery drop-off boxes available at Eastern Market. Look for the blue Zero Waste tent at Eastern Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In addition to accepting food waste and food-soiled paper for composting, the drop-off tents at select farmers markets will also take single-use (primary) and rechargeable household batteries under 11 lbs. DC residents are encouraged to bring their old small-format batteries safe disposal.
To learn more about battery disposal in DC, please visit: https://doee.dc.gov/page/doee-battery-recycling-program
