Smithsonian Institution 4 in the United States
See:
- Smithsonian Institution
- Smithsonian Institution 2
- Smithsonian Institution 3
- Smithsonian Institution 5
National Postal Museum
The Museum houses the Nation’s postal history and philatelic collection, the largest of its kind in the world, with more than 13 million objects. The Museum is devoted to the history of America’s mail service, and major galleries include exhibits on mail
service in colonial times and during the Civil War, the Pony Express, modern mail
service, automation, mail transportation, and the art of letters, as well as displays
of the Museum’s priceless stamp collection. Highlights include three mail
planes, a replica of a railway mail car, displays of historic letters, handcrafted
mail boxes, and rare U.S. and foreignissue stamps and covers.
For further information, contact the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE., Washington, DC 20560. Phone, 202–633–1000. Internet, http://www.si.edu/postal.
National Zoological Park
The National Zoo is an international leader in wildlife conservation, education, and research. Home to more than 2,000 animals, the
Zoo encompasses 163 acres along Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington,
DC. Exhibits include the Fuji?lm Giant Panda Habitat, where the giant pandas
Mei Xiang and Tian Tian can be found.
Built to mimic the animals’ natural habitat in China, it is part of the Zoo’s Asia
Trail, which also takes visitors through the habitats of red pandas, Asian small-
clawed otters, ?shing cats, sloth bears, and clouded leopards. Other highlights
include the Elephant House, home to the Asian elephant Kandula, who was
born at the Zoo in 2001; Amazonia, a 15,000-square-foot rain forest habitat;
the Reptile Discovery Center, featuring African pancake tortoises and the world’s
largest lizards, Komodo dragons; and the Great Ape House, home to gorillas,
orangutans, and other primates.
For further information, contact the National Zoo, 3000 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20008. Phone, 202–673–4717. Internet, http://www.si.edu/natzoo.
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
The Center is responsible for research, documentation, and presentation of
grassroots cultural traditions. It maintains a documentary collection and produces
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, educational materials, documentary ?lms, publications, and traveling exhibits, as well as the annual Smithsonian Folklife
Festival on the National Mall. Recent Folklife festivals have featured a range of
American music styles, a number of State tributes, and performers from around the
world. Admission to the festival is free. The 2-week program includes Fourth of
July activities on the National Mall.
For further information, contact the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Suite 4100, 750 Ninth Street NW., Washington, DC 20560. Phone, 202–633–1000. Internet, http://www.folklife.si.edu.
International Center
The International Center supports Smithsonian activities abroad and serves as liaison for the Smithsonian’s international interests.
The Smithsonian seeks to encourage a broadening of public understanding
of the histories, cultures, and natural environments of regions throughout the
world. The International Center provides a meeting place and an organizational
channel to bring together the world’s scholars, museum professionals, and the
general public to attend and participate in conferences, public forums, lectures,
and workshops.
For further information, contact the Office of International Relations, MRC 705, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW., Washington, DC 20560. Phone, 202–633–1000.
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
This Asian art museum opened in 1987 on the National Mall. Changing exhibitions
drawn from major collections in the United States and abroad, as well as
from the permanent holdings of the Sackler Gallery, are displayed in the
distinctive below-ground museum. The Gallery’s growing permanent collection
is founded on a group of art objects from China, South and Southeast Asia, and the
ancient Near East that were given to the Smithsonian by Arthur M. Sackler (1913–
1987). The Museum’s current collection features Persian manuscripts; Japanese
paintings; ceramics, prints, and textiles; sculptures from India; and paintings and
metalware from China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia. The Sackler Gallery is
connected by an underground exhibition space to the neighboring Freer Gallery.
For further information, contact the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20560. Phone, 202–633–1000. Internet, http://www.asia.si.edu.