Pigeon Museum & Library 

As the pigeon flies, The American Pigeon Museum & Library is about a mile off Route 66, not far from the Oklahoma City Zoo. The building, which opened in 2014, resembles a large pigeon coop, with square window boxes. Inside, pigeon paintings, prints, and posters cover the walls in every style imaginable. Various rooms branch off the main hall to delve into specific topics, such as pigeon racing, fancy breeds, and pigeons as portrayed in art and culture. 

The museum’s mission is to create awareness about domestic pigeons, why they exist, and how they help humanity. 

America’s Hero Birds 

“The exhibit that wows people the most is about homing pigeons passing secret messages along during wars,” said Ashlee Mikesell, the museum operator. “Today, people are more familiar with pigeons eating french fries off the sidewalk. But no, they had jobs. They were useful!” 

Pigeons have served as messengers for thousands of years. In American history, homing pigeons successfully delivered messages 95% of the time during World War I, and in World War II, 54,000 pigeons served in the U.S. Army. Several individual pigeons, such as Winkie and GI Joe, were awarded for specific acts of military bravery. 

Fancy Meeting You Here 

Another favorite exhibit of museum visitors is the row of cages inhabited by a dozen live pigeons of all shapes and sizes. These “fancy” breeds, all descended from rock doves, are surprising – featuring a diverse range of colors, unusual feather patterns, and even unique body shapes. The museum’s ambassador birds, who normally live at a separate habitat on the property, rotate through the museum during visiting hours, sunning themselves near a row of glass windows. 

The birds are accustomed to being “oohed and aahed” over, and often Ashlee takes the birds out for visitors to touch and photograph. Having grown up in the country, she is very comfortable with birds. On occasion, Ashlee travels with the pigeons to schools, libraries, and senior centers, where attendees can learn about the pigeons’ place in history. 

Pigeons Popping Up in Pop Culture 

Pigeons have a surprising presence in modern culture. The museum has collections of pigeon-themed beer flagons, quilts, cartoon drawings, and movies. Because the late Queen of England had a strong interest in pigeon racing, the museum also has a case of her photos and pigeon artifacts. 

“The museum’s collection keeps growing because of historically significant artifact donations from pigeon fanciers, prominent members of the hobby, or when someone has passed away with unusual pigeon items,” Ashlee said. “There are a surprising number of people who grew up with these amazing birds, but our non-pigeon visitors seem to really enjoy learning about them, too. Pigeons are man’s oldest feathered friend.” 

The museum is free, and people are visiting from all over the world, especially Route 66 travelers seeking unusual experiences. Where else might a visitor encounter a wall of wooden clocks used to time pigeons as they race across 600 miles? Or a collection of tiny, Chinese, bamboo whistles attached to pigeons’ tails to create music during flight? Or a pigeon-inspired Pokémon card? 

To learn more, visit TheAmericanPigeonMuseum.org. The museum is open limited hours Thursday through Saturday.