The American Pigeon Museum and Library was formed in 1973. Its original directors were William Bonwell, W. D. Grimes and Kenneth Lagree. For several years the AHPI collected miscellaneous items concerning the history of the pigeon keeping, but received several major contributions of materials from prominent members of the hobby.

In 1973, the American Pigeon Museum and Library received the library and breeding records of E. Lang Miller, a Buffalo long distance racing enthusiast. Then in 1996, the Institute received a large portion of the library, photographic collection and memorabilia of the late Charles Heitzman, a Kentucky racer and breeder of racing pigeons. Another major collection donated to the American Pigeon Museum and Library was the Thelma Snyder collection. The most recent collection donation was by the Dr. Willard Hollander family.

A major push to the establishment of the museum came when Elwin Anderson, Everett, Washington, issued a challenge to the pigeon hobby. Anderson agreed to donate $100,000 if the pigeon sport would match his donation. The campaign to raise the matching funds was called the Million Dollar March. The pigeon hobby responded. Thelma Snyder of $100,000 and Milton Haffner, Indiana of $50,000 made other large contributors.

The Vincent D. Snyder Nursing Fund made the largest contribution. After the death of Thelma’s husband, Vincent D. Snyder, Philadelphia fanciers, including Ben Cohen and Dr. Tomassetti, formed the Vincent D. Snyder Memorial Fund, which was used to provide scholarships to nursing students at the hospital with which Dr. Tomassetti was associated. When the hospital discontinued its nursing program, Dr. Tomassetti and Thelma arranged for the funds in the Snyder Memorial to be transferred to the AHPI. The amount was about $213,000, which was the largest single gift in the Million Dollar Marathon.

As a result of these donations, the American Pigeon Museum and Library was able to purchase 10 acres in 1993 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which had an existing red brick home. The home now houses the library and museum, as well as the administrative offices.

Subsequent additions include: the National One Loft Race(s) facility which is home to several hundred competitive racing homers from flyers across America at any given time, the Fancy Pigeon Exhibit which holds 20 different varieties of pigeons, a Roller loft complete with performing pigeons, the Wright Learning Center, a Scottish Pigeon Tower, the Gold Band Breeding Loft, the Memorial loft that houses white pigeons for release at dedications, funerals, weddings, the Event Center, a meeting facility used for special events and used by Clubs and Individuals on a reservation basis and the Thelma Snyder Memorial Garden. A new bridge spans a ravine on the property, which provides access to the proposed site of the new library/museum.