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National Museum (Smithsonian Natural History Building), Washington, D.C., circa 1940

Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1930 (White Border)
Front of National Museum (Smithsonian Natural History Building), Washington, D.C., circa 1940, Colourpicture, MA, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Front
Back of National Museum (Smithsonian Natural History Building), Washington, D.C., circa 1940, Colourpicture, MA, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

The card shows the Smithsonian's National Museum building — today the National Museum of Natural History — a Beaux-Arts structure with a domed rotunda and columned entrance, set behind a green lawn and curving walkways. Designed by Hornblower & Marshall, it opened in 1910 as the home of the United States National Museum's natural history collections. The caption uses the building's early generic name, before it was formally renamed the National Museum of Natural History in 1969.

Postcard Details

Message

No message detected

PublisherColourpicture Publishers, Inc.
NATIONAL MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D. C. --- THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES 10087 A COLOURPICTURE PUBLICATION, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., U.S.A. POST CARD PLACE ONE CENT STAMP HERE THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY © TENSCHERT
Addressed to

No address detected

Postcard record

PublisherColourpicture Publishers, Inc.
ConditionVery good
PublisherColourpicture, Cambridge, MA
NotesLinen-textured stock with a narrow white margin; vivid blue sky typical of the linen era. No postmark, no address, no message — unused card. Divided-back "POST CARD" with "THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES" and a "PLACE ONE CENT STAMP HERE" box; Colourpicture linen-stock imprint (No. 10087, © Tenschert). Front shows a linen-textured, borderless view.

Cite this card

National Museum (Smithsonian Natural History Building), Washington, D.C., circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/national-museum-smithsonian-natural-history-building-washing. Accessed October 25, 2026.