The Wandering Disciple

Over the years, the US Postal Service relied on may forms of transportation to get your mail from the sender to the recipient. The railway mail system began in 1832 and help revolutionize and streamline the mail process. During transit, mail typically sat in bags until received at the destination. But this new process saw postal staff sorting the mail onboard the mail cars, helping to make the process more efficient.  This postal car is one of the many postal exhibits on display at the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. Opened in 1993 as a partnership between the US Postal Service and the Smithsonian Institute, the museum is housed in the historic main post office which served the capital area from 1914-1986.  Taken: February 15, 2009 at National Postal Museum (Washington DC)

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. That is the unofficial motto of the United States Postal Service. Each day the postal service processes nearly 5 million pieces of mail to people in big cities all the way to the most rural locations. At times, the postal service needed to adapt to meet the needs of the community like this Rural Free Delivery mail sled on display at the National Postal Museum. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

What you can't see, can kill you.  That is the intent behind the unmanned drones such as the Predator seen here at the National Air and Space Museum.  Now a primary weapon of the US Armed Forces, a drone is the eyes and ears and spear of the nation's fighting forces allowing operators to monitor and neutralize a threat thousand of miles away without endangering a single allied troop.  (Photo: February 16, 2009)

Transportation in the early days was difficult, in order to cross the country you needed to take a risky wagon ride across the rugged countryside.  But it would all change in the the late 1800's as the country was introduced to a new form of travel, the railroad.  Before long, the country was connected with a series of rail lines making it easier to move people and goods across the nation.  The America on the Move exhibit at the National Museum of American History allows you to follow the journey of transportation in the country from horse back to the present day. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

A giant gypsum crystal sits on display at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History.  The museum boasts a large collection of gem stones like this crystal.  It seems like it would take a large time for a crystal this large to materialize however with the right nutrient rich soil and ideal temperatures a big crystal can develop pretty quickly.  (Photo: February 14, 2009)

Sitting high in a tree, the red panda looks down at zoo guests at the National Zoo in Washington DC.  A native of the Himalayas and southwestern China, the red panda is a bamboo eating mammal that can be found hanging out in the trees eating at night and sleeping during the day.  Although it is shares the panda name, the red panda looks more like a large domestic cat than a giant panda.  The red panda is listed as an endangered species due to habitat loss and poaching.  You can get close with this little tree huggers at zoos like the National Zoo. (Photo: February 13, 2009)

A normal sight in any town throughout the United States, the postal truck keeps America connected. Mail delivery has taken many forms through the years and the entire history is on display at the National Postal Museum in Washington DC.  (Photo: February 15, 2009)

A Douglas DC-3 hangs from the ceiling at the National Air and Space Museum. The America by Air exhibit is one of the many exhibits at the museum that highlight the advancements in aviation. From the early days of flight with the Wright Flyer to the great space race, all eras of history are represented here. (Photo: February 16, 2009)

The history of transportation is spotlighted in the America on the Move exhibit at the National Museum of American History.  The exhibit which takes up much of the first floor of the museum is a popular attraction featuring modes of transportation spanning the decades.  (Photo: February 14, 2009)

On of the most popular attractions on the National Mall, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History welcomes over seven million visitors a year.  It is the most visited museum in North America and the third most visited in the world.  Guests flock to the museum to see exhibits on animals, rocks and minerals, culture and much more.  (Photo: February 14, 2009)

The history of the US Postal Service is highlighted at the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. From letter carriers to air mail, all aspects of the postal service can be seen here. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

An Easter Island Head or “Moai” welcomes visitors to the National Museum of Natural History. The museum is home to the only two figures on display in the United States. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

A tiger prowls the edge of a pool at the National Zoo in Washington DC. The zoo which operated by the Smithsonian Institiute is home to over 2,000 animals. (Photo: February 13, 2009)

A Presidential Proclamation in 1939 by Franklin D Roosevelt declared the anniversary of Orville Wrights birthday to be honored as National Aviation Day. The Wright Brothers were the pioneers of aviation and in 1903 conducted the first powered flight from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The 1903 Wright Flyer can be seen on display along with other Wright inventions at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. (Photo: February 16, 2009)

The history of the postal service is highlighted at the National Postal Museum in Washington DC. Established in 1993, the museum tells the story of the postal service from the days of the pony express, through airmail and beyond. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

The command capsule of Skylab 4 is on display at the National Air & Space Museum. Skylab 4 was launched from Kennedy Space Center in November 1973 and orbited in space for 84 days. (Photo: February 16, 2009)

A giant panda takes a nap at the National Zoo in Washington DC.  The pandas are on loan to the United States from China.  (Photo: February 13, 2009)

A trolley is one of the many modes of transportation on display in the America on the Move exhibit at the National Museum of America History. From horse and carriage to trains and further to motorized vehicles, you can view the entire timeline of our nation’s transportation history. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

A massive elephant looks tiny compared to the large rotunda at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. The popular museum operated by the Smithsonian Institute showcase the natural world around use. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

An Eastern Air Lines DC-3 suspends from the air in the America by Air exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. The exhibit showcases the history of commercial aviation in the United States. (Photo: February 16, 2009)