Rehoboth museum's historical postcard exhibit to close March 12

The Rehoboth Beach Museum encourages the community to view its popular postcard exhibit, Wish You Were Here, before it closes Sunday, March 12.

Museum Director Nancy Alexander said, "We have found that everyone coming into the museum loves the history and messages displayed on this iconic American treasure - the vacation postcard - and thus we are reminding folks to see our exhibit before it ends."

She said, "All of our visitors are aware of Twitter and Instagram and other modern social media, and feel a sense of nostalgia in looking at social media's forerunners from the beginning of the 20th century."

The exhibit, a display of more than 300 postcards from the museum's collection and on loan from donors, provides a window into the styles and culture of the 20th century in Rehoboth Beach, and many portray houses and street scenes that give a glimpse into the development of the city over the years.

Alexander said the museum is hoping to complete a fundraising drive this year to allow it to expand into the second floor of the current facility. "The completed second floor will allow us to dramatically increase our permanent collection on display, and a postcard exhibit will certainly be part of any expanded regular exhibit," she said. For more information about the expansion drive, call Alexander at 302-227-7310.

Evolving from pictorial envelopes widely used in the early 1800s, the 3 12-by-5-inch picture postcard was introduced in the early 1900s and mailed for a penny. It became a ritual for travelers to let loved ones know they were not forgotten during a vacation or while visiting a landmark.

Postcards remain a reflection of social history and thus hold irreplaceable value, not to mention their ability to evoke nostalgic memories rivaling photograph albums. Adding to their charm is permanent significance as artifacts, objects of interest not only to collectors but also to anyone studying the history of art, paper or publishing.

The museum at 511 Rehoboth Ave., next to the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, is currently operating winter hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Admission is by voluntary donation.