With May 18 around the corner, now is a great time to talk about International Museum Day. As its name suggests, it is celebrated around the world, with many museums opening their doors to visitors - sometimes even for free - to showcase their exhibitions and collections. Today, we’ll explore the history of International Museum Day and take a look at several fascinating museums that have appeared on postage stamps.
International Museum Day has been organized by ICOM (International Council of Museums) every year since 1977. It is an important annual event for museums around the world and for everyone interested in culture, history, art, and heritage.
Grand Louvre Paris
France – 1989
The main goal of International Museum Day is to remind people how important museums are. Museums help cultures meet, share knowledge, and understand each other better. They also support cooperation and peace between people from different countries and communities.
International Museum Day is officially celebrated on May 18, but many museums organize activities around that date. Some events last only one day, while others continue through the weekend or even for a full week.
Smithsonian Institution 150th Anniversary
USA – 1996
Over the years, the event has grown into a global celebration. More and more museums take part each year, with thousands of museums from many countries and territories joining the celebration.
The earliest stamps mostly featured busts of queens, kings, and other rulers, but museums began appearing on stamps relatively soon after. As far as I could find, the first museum shown on a stamp was the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco - Musée Océanographique de Monaco - in 1922. Many more museum-themed stamps followed. In this article, we’ve selected several notable examples: the Louvre in Paris, France; the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, USA; the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, USA; and the Palace Museum in Beijing, China.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
USA – 2017
100th Anniversary of the Palace Museum, Beijing
UNPA - 2025
No matter where you live, May 18 is a wonderful opportunity to visit a museum near you. Many museums open their doors for free on or around International Museum Day, making it the perfect chance to explore something new and experience culture, history, or art in a fresh way.
Celebrities on Stamps: Bob Dylan
Celebrities on Stamps: David Bowie
Celebrities on Stamps: Pink Floyd
Celebrities on Stamps: The Rolling Stones
Celebrities on Stamps: John F. Kennedy
Celebrities on Stamps: Clint Eastwood
Celebrities on Stamps: Marilyn Monroe
Celebrities on Stamps: Paul McCartney
Celebrities on Stamps: Judy Garland
