The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

In November of 2010, we spent an afternoon and evening in Oklahoma City on our way home from a week in Texas. We were there a short time but had a nice visit. Besides seeing the State Capitol and the University of Oklahoma, we also did something that touched our hearts. We went to see the Oklahoma City National Memorial Park. This is where the old Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was before it was bombed on April 19, 1995.

Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder rental truck filled with explosives in front of the building and the resulting explosion killed 168 people and destroyed the entire north face of the building. On April 19, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the attack, the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial was dedicated.  Today it consists of the following segments on 3.3 acres: The Gates of Time, Reflecting Pool, Field of Empty Chairs, Survivors’ Wall, The Survivor Tree, The Memorial Fence, Rescuers’ Orchard, Children’s Area, and the Journal Record Building. It was all very touching, but I think the thing that was the hardest was seeing all those chairs. It was especially hard seeing the chairs of the 19 children who died that day. Their chairs were smaller and in a separate little section. It just broke my heart.

The one nice thing  I enjoyed seeing while visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial was the reflecting pool. A thin layer of water flows over polished black granite to form the pool, which runs east to west down the center of the Memorial on what was once Fifth Street. This wonderful and symbolic memorial is a place of quiet reflection, honoring victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. I am glad we saw it but felt very sad for all those lives lost.

While walking around the National Memorial we were able to see the survivor tree.  This 100-year-old tree not only survived the damage caused by the bomb but was also nearly chopped down during the initial investigation when workers wanted to recover evidence hanging in its branches and embedded in its bark. The force of the blast ripped most of the branches from the Survivor Tree, glass and debris were embedded in its trunk, and fire from the cars parked beneath it blackened what was left. Most thought the tree could not survive. Almost a year after the bombing, family members, survivors, and rescue workers gathered for a memorial ceremony by the tree noticed it was beginning to bloom again. The Survivor Tree now thrives, and the Outdoor Memorial design includes a mandate to feature and protect the tree. They even have an inscription around the deck of the wall that protects the tree. It reads “The spirit of this city and this nation will not be defeated; our deeply rooted faith sustains us”  

National Park Service Rangers provide regularly scheduled Interpretive programs, discussing the site’s significance, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During both the summer and winter months, Park Rangers will be found dispensing information on the National Memorial grounds every day from 8:30 am to 5:00 PM, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  For more information, please call (405) 609-8859 or check out their website.

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Visitor Information

Address:

620 N Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Phone:

405-609-8859

Hours:

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Park Rangers are on-site daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Regularly scheduled Interpretive programs are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, please call (405) 609-8855.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is open 7 days a week. Hours are as follows: Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ticket sales end one hour prior to closing each day.

Prices:

Outdoor Symbolic Memorial

Free and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. National Park Service Rangers are on the site daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, to answer questions.

Museum Tickets

$15 Adults
$12 Seniors 62+
$12 Military with ID
$12 Students (Age 6 through college with ID)
No charge for children ages 5 and under
Group rates are available

Directions:

FROM THE SOUTH (DALLAS, NORMAN)

• Take I-235 North to the 3rd exit, Harrison Avenue. You will see a brown sign that reads “Oklahoma City National Memorial Next Exit”
• Exit and turn right onto 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

FROM THE WEST (AMARILLO, I-40 & MERIDIAN HOTEL AREA OR AIPORT)

• Take I-40 East to the Western Ave. exit
• Exit Western Ave.
• Go North on Western Ave. to 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

FROM THE EAST (ARKANSAS, TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, MUSKOGEE LAKE AREA)

• Take I-40 West to I-235 North
• Take I-235 North to the 3rd exit, Harrison Ave. You will see a brown sign that reads “Oklahoma City National Memorial Next Exit”
• Exit and turn right onto 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

FROM THE NORTH (WICHITA, GUTHRIE)

• Take I-35 South to I-44 West
• Take I-44 West to I-235 South
• Take I-235 South to the 6th St. exit. You will see a brown sign that reads “Oklahoma City National Memorial Next Exit”
• Exit and turn right onto 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.
• Turn right onto 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

FROM TULSA (TURNER TURNPIKE)

• Exit the Turnpike in the far left lane, where the Turnpike (I-44) merges with I-35
• Take I-35 South to I-44 West
• Take I-44 West to I-235 South
• Take I-235 South to the 6th St. exit. You will see a brown sign that reads “Oklahoma City National Memorial Next Exit”
• Exit and turn right onto 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

FROM I-44 WEST (H.E. BAILEY TURNPIKE, LAWTON, FT. SILL)

• Follow I-44 East to I-40 East
• Take I-40 East to the Western Ave. exit
• Exit Western Ave.
• Go North on Western Ave. to 6th St., the Memorial & Museum is located at 6th St. and Harvey Ave.

Parking:

Paid parking lots are available to the north of the memorial on Northwest 6th Street and to the East on Robinson. Street parking is available on Northwest 5th Street to the east and the west of the Memorial. Handicapped parking is available on Northwest 6th Street near the entrance of the museum.