the American Pigeon Museum & Library
{{Short description|Museum in Oklahoma City}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
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| image = American Pigeon Museum.jpg
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| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q127782518|type:landmark_region:US-OK|display=inline,title}}
| former_names = American Homing Pigeon Institute (AHPI)
The Pigeon Center of the Americas
| established = {{start date|1993}}
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| location = 2300 Northeast 63rd Street,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
| type = Natural history
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| website = {{Official website|https://www.theamericanpigeonmuseum.org/}}
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The American Pigeon Museum & Library (APM&L) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, documents the history of pigeons and their domestication in the United States, with emphasis on the usage of homing pigeons during World War I and World War II. Founded as the American Homing Pigeon Institute (AHPI) in 1973, the current museum opened in 1993 and focused on pigeon racing but later expanded to its current scope.
History
The American Homing Pigeon Institute was founded in 1973 in Wichita, Kansas, and focused on homing pigeons and the history of pigeon racing. Later, the museum expanded to include the total history of pigeon domestication.{{cite AV media |last=Hopkin |first=Rachel |date=May 23, 2023 |title=What fascinating avian museum is based in Oklahoma City? |type= |url=https://www.kgou.org/show/how-curious/2023-05-23/okcs-american-pigeon-museum |access-date=July 9, 2024 |format= |time= |location= |work=KGOU}}
In 1993, the AHPI purchased a {{convert|10|acre}} plot of land at 2308 Northeast 63rd Sreet and repurposed the existing buildings on the site to host the museum, library, aviary, and exhibition space, naming it the Pigeon Center of the Americas. The site was dedicated on March 27.{{cite news |last1=Crown |first1=Allison |title=City to Become Home To Pigeon Exhibit Hall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-city-to-become-home/151010357/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=The Sunday Oklahoman |date=March 28, 1993 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102146/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-city-to-become-home/151010357/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Brus |first1=Brian |title=Pigeon Center Site To Be Dedicated |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-pigeon-center-site-t/151039603// |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=March 26, 1993 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102231/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-pigeon-center-site-t/151039603/ |url-status=live }} In 2013, a new museum building was built next to the old one. The museum reopened to the public on June 13, 2014.{{cite news |last1=Schwab |first1=Kyle |title=Pigeon museum opens in Oklahoma City |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-pigeon-museum-opens/151009111/ |department=Metro/State |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=June 14, 2014 |page=14A |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title=Pigeon Museum To Open |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-pigeon-museum-to-ope/151127881/ |access-date=July 11, 2024 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=May 25, 2014 |page=1D |department=Sunday Life |via=Newspapers.com}}
Description
The APM&L is located in a {{convert|6000|sqft|abbr=on|adj=mid}} building at 2300 Northeast 63rd Street in Oklahoma City. The site was chosen for its central location in Oklahoma and its proximity to Remington Park, major highways, and Route 66. The American Racing Pigeon Union is headquartered at the museum.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Jennifer L. |title=City's racing pigeons a mystery of nature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-citys-racing-pigeon/151011629/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=The Sunday Oklahoman |date=January 13, 2002 |page=7-A |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-citys-racing-pigeon/151011629/ |url-status=live }}
The museum's scope covers various pigeon species as well as their history, with emphasis on domestic and homing pigeons.{{cite AV media |last=Soto |first=Daniel |title=The American Pigeon Museum & Library |url=https://okcfox.com/news/morning-news/the-american-pigeon-museum-library |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=KOKH-TV |date=February 4, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Mummolo |first=Burt |title=Traveling Oklahoma: American Pigeon Museum and Library |url=https://ktul.com/news/local/traveling-oklahoma-american-pigeon-museum-and-library |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=KTUL |date=May 4, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102144/https://ktul.com/news/local/traveling-oklahoma-american-pigeon-museum-and-library |url-status=live }} There are three main sections: one on pigeon racing, another on the use of homing pigeons during World War I and World War II, and the last on the different species of fancy pigeons that are bred for appearances. While there is a focus on the United States, the collections include memorabilia and artifacts from several other countries. Artifacts include racing clocks, war memorabilia, paintings, and taxidermy specimens. The on-site library keeps a range of material on pigeons.{{cite news |last=Gore |first=Hogan |title=Did you know OKC is home to a pigeon history museum? Here's what you'll find there |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/11/18/american-pigeon-museum-library-okc-oklahoma-history-military-service/6281998001/ |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=The Oklahoman |date=November 18, 2021 |url-access=subscription}} {{subscription|s}}
The museum also operates an aviary, called the World of Wings,{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.theamericanpigeonmuseum.org/about |website=The American Pigeon Museum & Library |access-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710102149/https://www.theamericanpigeonmuseum.org/about |url-status=live }} which sits across the street from the main building, containing a flock of 200–250 pigeons. Some of the pigeons, many of which are loaned to the museum, are available to be viewed and handled by the public. The pigeons are kept in the sanctuary when they are not on display.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.theamericanpigeonmuseum.org/}}
{{Oklahoma City Museums}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:The American Pigeon Museum and Library}}
Category:Natural history museums in Oklahoma
Category:Museums in Oklahoma City
Category:Libraries in Oklahoma