the pigeon comes to washington, dc!
visit the whimsical world of Mo Willems and his cast of lovable characters
visit the whimsical world of Mo Willems and his cast of lovable characters
From January 17 through May 10, The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit transforms our Visiting Exhibit Hall into an an exhibit full of laughs. With a phone booth that makes you sound like Piggie, to a catapult that launches hot dogs at The Pigeon, to a fashion runway for the Naked Mole Rat. Activities in the exhibit will give visitors the opportunity to make art that is inspired by Mo Willems and to learn about the social and emotional lives of the author’s popular characters, discovering what it means to be a good friend, express yourself, and navigate the hilarious challenges of growing up.
recommended for learners ages 2 to 10 and their families
The Visiting Exhibit Hall serves as a space to showcase some of the world’s most innovative and engaging traveling exhibits, designed especially for children, ensuring that the Museum is constantly reflecting the world around us.
exhibit experiences
pigeon palace
help the characters dance and move, exploring old-time animation with crankable flipbooks and spinning praxinoscopes
elephones
have a hilarious conversation in the voices of Elephant Gerald and Piggie at a double-sided phone booth
fashion show
dress up Naked Mole Rat and send him down the runway for a one-of-a-kind fashion show
thank-o-rama
spin the Thank-o-rama and get inspired to write messages of gratitude
laundromat
spin the laundromat washing machine and uncover Knuffle Bunny, The Pigeon and other hidden surprises
art studio
learn the drawing techniques of Mo Willems in this space fit with craft paper, a light table, instructional videos, and more
the bus depot
climb into the famous Bus, or transform yourself into one with wearable bus costumes (just don’t let The Pigeon drive!)
monster blocks
stack lightweight blocks to create a terrible monster or funny friend
The Pigeon arcade
launch foam hot dogs at The Pigeon and play the plink game to give the Duckling a cookie
about the exhibit
january 17 - may 10, 2026
The Pigeon Comes to Washington, DC! A Mo Willems Exhibit was co-organized by Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
upcoming exhibits
Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!—summer 2026
Climb into the imaginative world of Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat in this playful exhibit inspired by the world’s most curious monkey!
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice—fall 2026
Go face-to-face with the prehistoric world and meet dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes.
Measurement Rules—spring 2027
Measurement is an essential part of our lives, but not always easy to understand. Gauge height, distance, volume and more in Measurement Rules, an interactive exhibit that introduces visitors to various units of measurement.
where is the exhibit located
all exhibits
The Visiting Exhibit Hall is located on the Exhibit Level, one level down from the main entrance, next to the Tinkering Corner and Rigamajig.
