Washington, DC: Owney, the Postal Dog Mascot

Owney can be seen at the National Postal Museum, wearing a small doggy vest bristling with medals and mail bag tags.

We've long had an affection for Owney the Railway Mail Dog, even though he likely wouldn't have returned the love. His new his postal likeness is a state-of-the-art stamp.

Owney, a mutt found abandoned at a post office in Albany, New York, traveled the world as the unofficial mascot of the U.S. Postal Service. For nine years he would hop mail trains and ships, sleeping on sacks of mail en route, until the tiny vest that he wore - custom made by a mailman - was covered with baggage tags from all of the post offices that he'd visited. Owney led a charmed life, as smooth as Saturday mail delivery, until June 11, 1897, when he bit a postal worker in Toledo, Ohio, and was shot dead by a policeman. Still beloved, Owney's body was stuffed - wearing his vest - and is now displayed at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC.

Owney stuffed animals and books are available for purchase in the gift shop! When it comes to free museums in D.C., this one is far less crowded, is kid friendly, and provides fun activities such as making your own stamp, writing in postcards, and digging through piles of old stamps to take a few home (for free).

Owney is located on the main level of the National Postal Museum, behind the train car.