Postcard of 1903 Wright Flyer

Historic Images of the Smithsonian

The Arts and Industries Building (A&I) was designed by two Philadelphia architects: Adolph Cluss and Rudolph Schulze. It first opened in 1881 as the United States National Museum, the Smithsonian's first building dedicated solely to the research, care, and display of collections. After the natural history collection moved into its own building in 1910, the Arts and Industries Building exhibited primarily historical and technology collections.

"Real photo" postcards were first produced using the Kodak "postcard camera." The postcard camera could take a picture and then print a postcard-size negative of the picture, complete with a divided back and place for postage.

Black and white real photo postcard with the caption "Original Wright Flyer Aeroplane of 1903, National Museum, Smithsonian Institution" which was on display in the United States National Museum, now known as the Arts and Industries Building. The Wright Flyer was displayed in this building from 1948 to 1976, when it was moved to the National Air and Space Museum. The front of the card has a white border, and the postcard is unused. However, an additional negative number of "38391" can be seen written in pencil on the address side. This negative number is for the photograph used to produce the postcard.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Collection T90126, Box 1, Folder: 3

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu