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Oklahoma City National Memorial
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26 reviews for Oklahoma City National Memorial
Sentimental. Gorgeous. Bittersweet.
I used to live in OKC, and was close to so many involved in this horrible ordeal back in 1995, and this place peacefully symbolizes what was lost that day.
It is nothing I can fully describe, which is why I strongly urge and encourage anyone in the area to actually visit this Memorial and you will know what I mean.
For everyone that has lost someone tragically, and unexpectedly like this or any other horrible event in history, my heart goes out to you.
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I went to the Memorial for the first time two weeks ago and still find myself thinking about it. It is subtle and quiet but speaks loudly about loss and grief. It also shows the terrible and pointless destruction of that April day in 1995. At the same time, the entire site is uplifting and graceful. It's a little like a beautiful church. People were talking in hushed tones and a group of teenagers laughing were shushed by several other teenagers and told to remember where they were. Alot of respect, there.
The grassy area where the chairs are is the "footprint" of where the Murrah Building once stood and the placement of the chairs reveals what floor each victim was on a the time of the bombing. Five chairs on the west end are for people killed outside the building. The chairs are serene but awful since you know why they are there, especially the little ones. All around this area, you can see bent rebar and cracked foundations, again, showing the magnitude of the blast. It makes quite a statement.
The entire site is bracketed by two entrances: 9:01 and 9:03. Such a short time frame for so much loss.
The museum was also well thought out. To begin your walk though, there is an actual recording of the blast which occurred during a routine court hearing and happened to be caught on the tape. No way to describe the sound.
Your walk through the museum starts at that moment and progresses in a time line. The displays are heartwrenching...eyeglasses, car keys, random shoes, coffee cups....everyday things found in the wreckage. There are also displays of miracles and regular people saving each other. It is deeply reflective of the American spirit, in my opinion.
One of the most interesting parts was about the FBI investigation. Just amazing how they put the puzzle together and caught that person who's name I will not even type onto this page. He is barely mentioned and only one picture of him is there (a mug shot). It isn't about him, really.
Another thing not to be missed is (whats left of ) the men's restroom in the museum building. It has been plexiglassed off and left as it was after the bombing. Total devastation and this was 1/2 a block away. It kind of puts into perspective the power of the blast and what a miracle it was that more people weren't killed that day.
It is something that everyone should see. Its a powerful place and a fitting memorial to those that died and those who survived.
When in town for a ZZ Top concert, we didn't intentionally come here first, nor was it on our list of plans (we didn't have any plans), we just managed to roll into town and park by it.
BTW, downtown Oklahoma City is not that large. It's a tiny town.
Way back when, you know, pre - 911 days, when terrorism on US soil hadn't been heard of much since the German attack on Black Tom Island in New York City on July 20th of 1918, we were surprised.
I, just like most other people saw all of this stuff on the news about this building being blown up and had no idea why.
What struck me most were the little chairs of the many children. Which pretty much shows the coward nature of whom did this. Kids didn't have to be killed to make some point. And the point never had to be made to begin with.
My overall feeling about visiting here is that it was a very beautiful tribute to the ones lost, yet overall so large that it will be there forever. Not saying it should not, but it's very overpowering.
I was quite surprised by what a small city block this was to see in person, as on the news back then, it looks like a whole city or something.
It did make my friends and I realize that there are some evil people out there, as much as we would like to think otherwise. And what happened here wasn't american by nature, the waco thing doesn't justify it at all, and it's just sad.
Beautiful memorial. One of the most beautiful I have ever seen, and it fully relayed the loss, to me and my friends. One of the original trees is still there and we just sat by it silent for a while, only trying to comprehend something we never really could quite.
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Before I drove home today I made a detour to come check out this memorial. It is simply gorgeous and moving. As I walked around the reflection pool I thought about all those people who were there and just the senseless tragedy of it all. Everyone else has already covered the entire memorial - simply stated it is a must see. Well worth the detour to come and remember.
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I saved the memorial for my last day in Oklahoma City and wasn't disappointed. Going through the memorial produced and interesting progression of emotions. The outside is set up beautifully in memory of those who perished in the bombing with the chairs and the survivor tree, but it was inside the memorial that truly moved me.
When I first entered inside, it actually didn't seem like much. It was in your standard museum style with words on the walls and diagrams placed throughout the floor. Then it was explained to me that the way they set it up was in progression of time from right before the bombing to the aftermath. I soon realized that what you see in the beginning doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. It's not that they changed the style of their presentation in any major way, but rather the personal items found and placed throughout the place that truly moved me. Hearing the testimonies of the survivors and families and seeing visually the magnitude of damage and grief takes things beyond what words can adequately describe.
If you are passing through anywhere near Oklahoma City and can pick only one place to visit, this is it.
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I have been here several times, once for a class outing. I can't stress how important this is especially as a part of history. It is very emotional and moving, and really takes you back to that moment. I was in middle school in tulsa at the time so i was farther away than everyone i now know that was living in okc and actually felt it. This is something that everyone should see, especially those living in oklahoma.
Also at night when the chairs are lit up, it is beautiful.
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Beautiful, brilliant, heartbreaking, moving, incredibly overwhelming.
The child-sized chairs made me start crying immediately. It's just a beautiful, poignant tribute to a senseless, wanton act of destruction, and it is a fantastically designed and implemented memorial space in the ghost-ruins of the Murrah building.
I walked the memorial at midnight, transfixed by the glowing chairs with names detailing the sudden dead, and then walked it again in the morning thunderstorm, affording two very different views of the monument. If you have the time, please stop and see the memorial at both times.
Wonderful spot, well worth seeing.
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Very few things "move" me. I mean I've seen things that are just inspirational, but still, nothing has quite touched me. The OKC Bombing memorial is the exception.
It's amazing. Long before 9/11, this was the single biggest terrorist attack on US soil. I was in the 11th grade in Tulsa when this happened and this was huge news then. The memorial itself is absolutely breathtaking. The reflecting pond, and the chairs with the names of all the victims inscribed in it is so appropriate. There is a museum attached where you can see artifacts from the bombing. This place is definitely a must see.
This is a fitting monument that honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and the local Oklahoma City residents' perserverence. I walked the grounds and was moved by the symbolism of the entire National Memorial. I visited the memorial after hours and there was a park ranger eager to give me more insight to the monument.
The symbolism of the "Gates of Time". The 9:01 gate representing our innocence before the attack. The 9:03 gate representing how we changed as a nation. "The Reflecting Pool" gives the peaceful calm to the monument. The "Field of Empty Chairs" represented all the lives lost during this tragedy. Also the details of how each of the rows represent the floor of where the person was killed. And how each small chair representing the small children killed while the larger chairs represents the adults killed on April 19, 1995. Without going into more details about the "The Survivor Tree", "The Fence", "Survivor Wall", "Children's Area", and the "Rescuer's Orchard" are equally moving.
If you are in the Oklahoma City area like I was, take an hour of your time to visit, reflect and learn. Granted this is a small tragedy as compared to 9-11 in New York, but as history teaches us, without a fitting monument like this...we shall never forget.
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I used to live in Oklahoma City and I was there when it happened. I moved in 2002. During my many trips back to OKC, I only made it here once 3 years ago and we were in a hurry so I didn't get the chance to see the museum. Oklahoma is our final destination and I wanted to show my sister the museum. We were both touched and and I was speechless and moved. How can a human being caused all these destruction? The memorial is beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.
The memorial has affected me so much, I've thought about the family of the victims and the little kids that die...So heartbreaking...
For those of you who are gonna be in OKC area, please stop and see the OKC Memorial and Museum.
The museum is beautifully-done, and unsurprisingly it's very emotional.
I was overwhelmed with the attraction and with the lecture with the architect who designed the memorial. While all the reviews below capture the essence of what the memorial is all about, I would like to add that this epicenter is important to Okie City as the project unified a once disorganized city council (from what I hear). Everyone involved really got it right. I was proud of the American spirit displayed within the honored walls.
On a serious note...
In the matter of 1 minute - between 9:01am and 9:03 am on April 19, 1995 - Life changed. For many. Confrontation with tragedy and death really makes you put into perspective how fleeting life is.
On the second floor they have an area where the victims' families contributed something to depict the persona of their loved one. There was a box of tissues on top of a bench in that room. Although sad, this isn't what made me tear up. In the next room over were videos of surviving family members talking about life after the bombing. I remember one man specifically. He said: "Everyone tells you to pull yourself up, to get past it...but what nobody ever tells you is HOW."
Ain't that the truth.
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It seems weird to call this a well-done memorial, but it is. It is beautiful, moving, authentic, and informative.
Bring plenty of kleenex.
Seeing the little baby size chairs (for those who were in the day care and killed) is especially devastating.
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As others have said, it seems strange to comment on the beauty of this memorial. I am sorry that it exists to comment on, but a recent visit moves me to do so. It is an incredible space and the care the architects and engineers took to honor those who died and suffered as a result of the bombing in 1995 is incredibly evident in every detail. I am impressed that the foorprint of the Murray building remains intact in the design and attention was given to the remaining tree on the site of the former parking lot, as well as the wall on the side of what is now the museum.
The children's area is a unique space which honors the fallen little ones, and gives all those who were affected by the bombing a safe space to express themselves with sidewalk chalk.
My prayers are with the families and friends who lost loved ones that day and whose lives were turned upside down. Hopefully this memorial offers a special place to remember, pray, and heal.
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Matt drove west on I-40 and check out a part of history. What was once a federal building by Alfred B Murrah, now become a National monument, thanks to Timothy McVeigh's terror attack that killed many innocent people.
This two-block empty hole is now a memorial site from that dreadful date of April 19, 1995. The fence has an engraved plaque with a list of names, who was killed from that deadly explosion by Timothy McVeigh.
That event was the one of the deadliest terror/bombing in United States History, and Matt was very happy and fortunate to check out a part of history, sadly to say. Other than the historical site, Oklahoma City has very little attractions.
"Now do Matt get a "A" in History?"
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I can't begin to describe the feelings that overwhelmed me when I visited the memorial. We went during the day initially and, even though we were in town for less than 24 hours, we knew we had to return after dark. We're so glad we did. The park ranger on duty once served with Timothy McVeigh in the army, and his insight was both fascinating and chilling. Said park ranger was also within blocks of the bombing when it occurred and is partially deaf because of it. I don't know what else to say. This is just a must-see.
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I have to give this 5 stars. I'd give it more, if I could.
Why? I'm from Oklahoma. I lived in Oklahoma City for nearly 3 years. I drove by this Memorial several times on ordinary days. I've walked around the Memorial only a few times. It's not easy, but I appreciate when people take the time to stop here, to pay homage to those who lost their lives on April 19th. I'm glad there's a constant reminder that even in the darkest of hours, people can band together. I only wish we didn't have to go through such tragedies to realize we are all connected and in "this" together.
I like how Oklahoma City has built the Memorial as a reminder -- not of pain or suffering but of strength and hope. It speaks volumes about The City (that's what we folks call Oklahoma City, if you didn't know). I like how you can stumble across this Memorial, or even make a point to seek it out. Oklahoma City isn't bemoaning their past - you'll find no "Come, Weep With Us" feeling here. Instead, it's more of a reminder that at times, each of us needs somebody to lean on.
Perhaps I sound sappy, but I'm okay with that.
This is such a tranquil , beautiful place, This is a must see I can't explain the feeling you get when you pass through the gates of time. It was so sad and so moving. You can' t stop the emotions from going through you.
On a trip to OKC to visit a friend we had some time while other friends went off to do something else and she suggested we go here. Of, course i wanted to go and see this. I believe that you have to witness things in the past that shape us in the future and this is one of them. I have to commend the park service for their park rangers who do the tours and tell the story of those who were there can tell. The lady, i don't remember her name, was very throught and answered any question the group with us wanted her to answer. I thank her for that. The children't memorial choked me up, seeing all the little hand prints made me think. While we didn't go into the inside memorial (it was closed) we did see everything else. The reflecting pool is gorgeous, and it's so fitting for this place, along with the chairs. Thank you for having this here for us all to come and reflect upon things that happened and to hope for the future.
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Incredible memorial to those that were impacted by this tragedy. You can walk it day or night and it is self guided via your cell phone. I would say, do it during the day and then come back at night to see it transform into a beautiful glowing monument. I will go back again.
It is understandably very difficult for a monument or memorial to not only represent a moment in the history of a country, but also begin to encompass the emotion of that event.
To truly appreciate this memorial for what it is, you need to spend time in it. It's the small details which go unnoticed in a quick walk-through which will make the memorial haunt your memory.
The entrance is a great combination of wheelchair ramp and gateway to the memorial. Its effect helps you to separate your experience inside from your life outside. When you get inside the memorial and look up at the time, you feel as if you are living in that collection of moments when it happened.
Inside, you are immediately presented with a reflecting pool. It is calm and without ripples, and it is set into the floor of the memorial in such a way that you at first feel is impossible. It gives you a great calming feeling - in contrast to the violence the memorial commemorates.
Many people cite the chairs - which are lit from below at night, giving an eerie feeling of energy - as the most powerful element of the memorial. My visit coincided with the dedication of the memorial, which was the one time that anything other than the chairs were in the meadow. There were numerous personal items placed on the chairs - cowboy hats, teddy bears, and the like.
What still sticks in my mind is the handprints - whether they were put there by design, or as a result of people putting their hands in the water and then pressing them against the entry walls - I do not know. But the handprints gave me the feeling that the spirits of the people caught in those moments were trying to get out.
Put it this way - if you felt I.M. Pei's Vietnam memorial was artistic, subtle, and effective, you will take away much from this memorial. If you are more impressed by the Marine Iwo Jima memorial, this may not be your thing.
I did not expect to be as moved by this place as I was.They did a real good job telling the history of the building from creation to the destruction. They tell the story of everybody who was affected by the bombing. This is a memorial to the victims but I thought it was really a warning to live your lives to the fullest and not to become too complacent .
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This is a very touching memorial. The way it is laid out is beautiful and sad at the same time. I enjoyed the museum as much as I could. The museum had a lot of detail, everything from the victims, to the capture of the terrorists and the trial to the rebuilding. I highly recommend this museum.
I visited this memorial while on business from Arizona. I was extremely moved by the experience. It succeeds in mourning the deaths of the innocent, while also conveying a subtle message condemning the senselessless of terrorism. If you have only a few hours of free time in Oklahoma City, as I did that day, I would highly recommend a visit here to reflect on this terrible loss.
A reminder of the lives lost on that tragic day. The museum was closed when we decided to visit but walking around the outside memorial took my breath away. To look up and see the holes where debris knocked into it, to see the bricked up windows, the chairs, the foundation of where the Murrah Building once sat is indescribible.
