On a typical spring morning in 1995, a bomb exploded outside the Murrah Federal Building in Downtown Oklahoma City. Within minutes, a nine-story office building was reduced to rubble, and 168 innocent lives were lost in what remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in US history. This is what you need to know before you walk through the Gates of Time to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial.
Hotels.com asked me to share my experience visiting the Oklahoma City Memorial in Oklahoma City.
Six years before four planes were hijacked on September 11th, 2001, a different terrorist attack shook the nation. And it was an inside job. Instead of al-Qaeda members flying commercial aircraft into buildings, a decorated US Army veteran parked a rented truck outfitted with a homemade explosive outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Minutes later, just after 9:00 am local time on April 19, 1995, a diesel-fuel-and-fertilizer bomb exploded, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of downtown Oklahoma City.
Like the Pearl Harbor and September 11 national memorials, visiting the Oklahoma City Memorial is likely to leave you emotionally drained. In fact, I was surprised at how hard the experience gripped me. In some ways, it was much more devastating than my experiences in Honolulu and New York City. Perhaps it was because the terrorists were Americans who intentionally killed and injured their fellow countrymen. Maybe it was gazing at the 19 small chairs and imagining the grief that parents felt when their young children’s lives were cut short. And when I saw a family — a mid-life mother and father with a 20-something daughter — placing flowers on what I assumed was a lost child’s chair, the tears that had been brewing spilled down my cheeks.
While a trip to the Oklahoma City Memorial is heartbreaking, it’s important to visit, to honor those who lost their lives that day and to remain vigilant against future attacks. Here’s what you need to know before you visit the Oklahoma City Memorial.
Have You Visited Oklahoma City?
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Sage Advice: From the Oklahoma State Capitol to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City offers many other interesting sights. Find the perfect lodging in Oklahoma City with one of these accommodations.
Today, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum stand as a testament to those who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. This story is as relevant as ever -- when people try to divide us, what will you do to stand united?
Visit the Museum First
Although I remember exactly where I was when the Murrah Federal Building was attacked — and the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of a firefighter cradling a bloody baby in his arms will forever be seared into my memory — but a lot has happened since 1995. As I toured the Oklahoma City Memorial, I had a lot of questions and a spotty recollection. So, if your schedule allows, visit the museum first to learn more about that fateful day.
Ask a Park Ranger or Join a Ranger Program
If you only have time to visit the memorial, try to go when park rangers are on site (typically between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm). They can expertly answer your questions and lead ranger programs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Other Ways to Learn Important Oklahoma City National Memorial Facts
As you wander the park grounds, you will notice only limited information signs. These are a few of the facts I found myself Googling as I visited the Oklahoma City Memorial.
"You are entering the area where the Alfred P. Murrah Building once stood. The granite used on this pathway was salvaged from the Murrah Building. The Field of Empty Chairs is a tribute to the 168 Americans who were killed April 19, 1995. The nine rows represent the nine floors of the former Murrah Building. Each person's chair is positioned in the row that corresponds to the floor on which they worked or were visiting. The five westernmost Empty Chairs honor those who were killed outside the Murrah Building."
How many people died in the Oklahoma City bombing?
When the Murrah Federal Building was bombed, 759 people were injured, resulting in 168 deaths.
How many children died in the Oklahoma City bombing?
Tragically, 19 children in the building’s day care facility died in the Oklahoma City bombing. Additionally, three unborn children perished with their mothers on April 19, 1995.
Who was behind the Oklahoma City bombing?
Timothy McVeigh and two of his Army buddies — Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier — were responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing that left 168 people dead. McVeigh was convicted on 15 counts of murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death. He was executed on June 11, 2001. Nichols was convicted of similar charges and is currently serving 161 consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole. Michael Fortier served approximately 10 years of a 12-year prison sentence, convicted on four federal charges that included not warning authorities of McVeigh and Nichols’s plans and lying to the FBI. He and his wife Lori currently live under new names and identities in the witness protection program.
When was the Oklahoma City National Memorial Built?
Known officially as the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, the Oklahoma City Memorial Park was dedicated on April 19, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the horrific explosion. The museum was dedicated less than a year later.
Who designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial?
Hans and Torrey Butzer, the husband-and-wife team behind Butzer Architects and Urbanism, designed the Oklahoma City Memorial.
The Memorial is Full of Symbolism
The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is built around a reflecting pool where the Murrah Federal Building once stood. It runs perpendicular to N. Robinson Ave. and N. Harvey Ave where NW 5th St. once connected the two streets. But after McVeigh parallel parked a truck loaded with explosives on the north side of the building, that section of road was closed forever.
The rectangular water feature is flanked by square arches known as the Gates of Time. The eastern gate displays a time of 9:01, the minute before the lives of Oklahoma Citians were changed forever. The western gate shows a time of 9:03, the minute after the horrific attack.
The Oklahoma City Memorial is a Quiet Place of Reflection
Visitors should remember that the Oklahoma City Memorial is a quiet place of reflection and not a city park. In memory of the lives lost here, it’s best to use similar etiquette to visiting a cemetery. Pets are not allowed.
Don't Miss This Famous Statue Nearby
At the corner of NW 5th St. and N. Harvey Ave. visitors will find “And Jesus Wept.” With the west memorial arch in the background, this sculpture was installed by the Saint Joseph Catholic Church on the spot where its Parish House stood. The building was severely damaged in the explosion and was demolished.
To Visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial
Where is the Oklahoma City Memorial?
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is located between N. Harvey Ave. and N. Robinson Ave. just north of NW 4th St. in Oklahoma City’s Business District. The museum is located in the adjacent former Journal Record Building.
What are the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum Hours?
The memorial site just north of the museum is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is no cost to visit the memorial, but expect to pay for metered parking if you are visiting by car.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is open seven days a week. An adult ticket is $15, with discounts offered for children, seniors, and military. Visit the museum website for specific hours of operation, special events, and other information.
Have You Visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial?
What stuck with you most about the experience? Do you have any additional information to contribute? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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I remember when that happened. Such a sad, tragic event. But what a beautiful place to visit and remember.
I very much remember that spring day in 1995. I can imagine the kind of emotions such a memorial will evoke, but it’s important to remember and pay our respects. I think the symbolism built into the memorial is very evocative and powerful.
It is just so hard for me to fathom why people would do something as terrible as this. Memorials like this one are so important for the rest of us to learn and reflect on such a tragedy in the hope that this doesn’t happen again. The way they set up the tribute here with all the chairs facing the water and structures at either end is so thoughtful and touching.
I remember when this happened! It was so tragic and I would have bawled just seeing those chairs. So sad 🙁 I would love to see this if I ever get to Oklahoma.
Apart from the details about how to visit the Memorial, I liked how you penned down your emotions about the incident, at the same time really sad to learn about this shocking episode.
I was in OKC many years ago, but this is all new since I’ve visited. Thank you for all of the detailed information.
Yes, we visited this. The two pillars, the chairs, and the crying priest. It was all very symbolic and serene…a must-see and experience.
I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know about this incident, which is surprising given the death toll. I wonder what that says about our media, that domestic terrorism is less newsworthy (on the international stage) than the external kind. The chairs are a particularly beautiful memorial.
Many years ago, before my first trip to the United States, I was truly scared of my destination. Yes, bad things can happen everywhere. But I was afraid that some lunatic enters a McDonalds and mows all patrons down with a pump gun. Or that there will be some drive-by shooting. Or anything that will kill me although I’m not involved in any bad situation. At that time, there wasn’t extremist terrorism yet, however, those school shootings and amok shooting in fast-food restaurants were known only in the US. I think that for some reason, the society in the US creates many deranged people. Or maybe in other countries, they are better taken care of. Dark topic.
I didn’t know very much about this attack until now. My heart sank reading it. It’s so sad when other countries attack America, but America attacking America is heartbreaking. It’s definitely a place I would like to visit to pay my respects and learn more about. Thanks for the details you provided for when I go.
Yes, I think that’s why my visit hit me so hard. It’s truly tragic.