Happy August! I hope wherever you are, you’re staying cool in all this heat!

One thing I love about summer is that it’s a great time to travel. I recently took a trip to Oklahoma City, and while I was there, I stopped at The American Pigeon Museum.

As someone who enjoys birdwatching, I couldn’t resist a short trip to the quirky museum, and let’s just say, I wasn’t disappointed!

Personally, I don’t know a lot about pigeons other than that they’re doves, and they are horrible nest makers. Visiting this unique exhibit changed that! I came away with so much interesting knowledge about these birds that seem to be everywhere in our cities and towns.

The museum was divided into three sections, and the one I found most fascinating was the military room. Like most kids in school, I had learned about pigeons being used to send messages during the World Wars, but the idea of studying them deeply never crossed my mind.  Well, my opinion on that has changed since visiting the pigeon museum!

Pigeons weren’t just a footnote during the World Wars, they were actually valued soldiers and members of the United States Army Pigeon Service (USAPS). At a young age, they were trained to fly hundreds of miles to be able to deliver messages in times of emergencies. Several pigeons even earned military awards for their bravery by delivering messages during battle. Two of the pigeons showcased in the museum that caught my eye were the decorated veteran Cher Ami, who was credited with saving 194 soldiers and went on to receive the Croix de Guerre (a prestigious French military award), and President Wilson (the pigeon, not the man!!), who was credited with delivering a message during WWI despite his leg and breast having been injured by gunfire.

If you are curious to learn more about these heroic animals, The American Pigeon Museum and Library is a great online resource as is the National Archives website.

I’ve included one of my favorite pictures from the museum below. It’s of a pigeon paratrooper ready for takeoff (or I suppose, ready for jumping?).