The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, located in Washington DC, is the place where the US Government designs, engraves, and prints US paper currency; Treasury bonds, bills, notes, and certificates of indebtedness; US postage, customs, and revenue stamps; engraves items for the various departments and agencies of the Federal Government. They do not create the coins, though; they are created in Denver and Philadelphia. The bureau produces over 20 billion postage stamps. They have been the largest supplier of postage stamps to the US Postage Service for over 100 years. In 1997, they produced almost 10 billion bills, 9,580,800,000 to be exact. The Bureau is part of the agency of the US Treasury Department, established by the Appropriation Act of 1869. At the time we were there, we saw $1 bills made. They are printed in sheets of 32, stacked in piles of many sheets, and cut. The front side is made using black ink, and the back is made using green ink. They are made of 25% linen and 75% cotton so they will be more sturdy. It can fold 4,000 times on the same crease without ripping.

Dale Gaarenstroom, a student at Carleton Middle School, visited Washington DC on a field trip. Andrew Vansteenkiste, also a student at Carleton, did not attend the Washington DC trip.

Andy interviewing Dale

Andy: What was the best part of the BEP?
Dale: The money! It was weird seeing all that money in front of my eyes. It was amazing that there were so many cameras and security guards around it. It was cool how it went through all those machines to make the money.

Andy: Did you find the BEP interesting?
Dale: Yah, it was pretty cool. Except for waiting the long time. Even though we waited 1 hour and 15 min., I thought it was interesting and educational.

Dale interviewing Andy

Dale: Even though you didn't go to Washington DC, what did you think the BEP was like?
Andy: Based on the facts that I learned, I think it is cool. Having so much money in one place is kind of freaky.

Dale: If you had the chance to go there, would you?
Andy: Yes, it sounds like a fun place to visit.

The BEP
By: Dale Gaarenstroom

I looked though the window, gazing in awe;
I've never seen this before, what I had saw.
I was stunned, I was speechless;
It kept on coming, it was endless.

So many thoughts, went though my mind;
It was amazing, it was one of a kind.
There were millions, in large piles too;
"Am I alive?", I wish I knew.

There was money, I mean a lot;
The BEP, is a robber jackpot.
But the millions of guards, and protective machines;
Kept this place protected, from all human beings.


Money, Money, Money!
By: Andy VanSteenkiste

The BEP-it basically means money;
$71 billion a year is as sweet as honey.
The cameras and guards protect the dough;
The cash being printed gives people a show.

1's, 5's, 10's, and 20's;
The higher bills are scarce 'cause they're 
worth more money.
They don't make coins at the BEP;
But they do make postage stamps, infact, very many.

The bureau is open 6 days a week.
The piles of money are like mountain peaks.
Close to $23 million, is made a day;
That is a pretty big price to pay.