Each person who steps off the elevator into the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum is taken back in time to the beautiful spring morning of April 19, 1995. Traveling through the day, weeks, months and years that have past since the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, visitors hear the story and see the impact of violence firsthand. They also see the resilience of a community that would not be deflated and the hope of a nation that would not be defeated by terrorism.

On February 19, 2001, President George W. Bush, and First Lady Laura Bush joined thousands of Oklahomans to dedicate and open the museum. “Memorials do not take away the pain,” Bush said at the ceremony. “They cannot fill the emptiness. But they can make a place in time and tell us the value of what was lost. The debris is gone, and the building is no more. Now this is a place of peace and remembrance and life.”

Telling a Story...
The storyline for the Museum was written in ten chapters. There is a chapter called “chaos”, which depicts the moments immediately following the bomb. The devastation was shocking. In the large wall cases are artifacts salvaged from the buildings. In the first case the artifacts are office related: a clock, a daily reminder, a pencil sharpener, a blind, file drawers, file cabinet, and computer monitor. In another case the architectural features are: a door, a lamppost globe, a glass tile, and molded plaster. In the center of the room are irregularly shaped kiosks containing small cases. In the small cases are unclaimed possessions such as keys, watches, shoes, etc... In each of these small cases there is one article for which the owner has been identified.

In the area telling the story of the 16 days of rescue and recovery displayed, among other artifacts pertaining to this period, are two very special flags. The large flag is the flag that was flying on the GSA plaza at the time of the bombing and the smaller flag was the first flag removed from the Murrah Building after the explosion. The smaller flag was flown from the large crane working at the site, and then, the flag was given to the Governor and exhibited at the Capitol Building.

In the “Gallery of Honor” room, is displayed the image of each person killed in the bombing. Each victim has an individual case in which an object selected by the family to depict their loved one can be placed.

The last chapter in the Museum is called “Hope”. In this chapter the rebuilding of Oklahoma City, the unity of the community and the challenge to see that nothing like this ever happens again are emphasized. From this area one can see the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial and come to understand that both bring the same message of hope. The “water wall” is a thin sheet of water flowing over a dark stone background, flanked on both sides by bronze walls. It provides continuity with the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, which has a dark stone reflecting pool and bronze gates.

Five Years Later...
Five years have passed since the Memorial Museum first told the story of that April day. Since the opening, more than one million people, including former heads of state, foreign dignitaries, celebrities and others, have shared in the story of how the citizens of Oklahoma City withstood the very worst mankind had to offer and made the very most of it.

Visitors from every state and from around the world have taken with them lessons learned the about senselessness of violence and hope that springs eternal by visiting the Memorial Museum. They also gained perspective through special exhibits including A Shared Experience, which highlighted the common experience Oklahoma City shared with New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pa., following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001; Portraits of Survival: The Original Art of the Murrah Building, featuring art originally installed in the Murrah Building – including 23 pieces that were recovered after the bombing; and Changed Forever, Forever Changing, a look at the progress made by survivors, family members and the community as the ten-year anniversary of the bombing was observed.

One Memorial Museum visitor from Eugene, Oregon, wrote, “It is our duty to remember that day of horror, sacrifice and grief was followed by an unbeatable force of courage, honor, hope and love.”

Research shows the Memorial Museum’s message is being heard. Consistently given as a top reason for visiting the state, the Memorial and Museum have become integral to tourism in Oklahoma. Economic impact studies conducted on behalf of the Memorial and Museum show an estimated $50 million annual impact. In two separate Oklahoma State Department of Tourism studies, the Oklahoma City National Memorial was given as the specific destination for more than half of visitors to Oklahoma City.

“This museum was created to tell this story for generations to come, so that the lessons of triumph over evil aren’t lost,” said Kari Watkins, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Executive Director. “We are excited about the accomplishments the Museum has had over the last five years, and look forward to continuing the work of teaching the Memorial’s mission to visitors from around the world.”

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Memorial Museum by hosting THE ENEMY WITHIN: Terror in America – 1776 to Today. It is the first in a series of three national exhibits the Museum will display in the coming months. Educational outreach and programs are bringing in educators and students from across the nation. The Memorial’s annual Reflections of Hope award is gaining international accolades, and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon expects more than 10,000 runners in this year’s race.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum was created to honor “those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever” by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The Memorial and Museum are dedicated to educating visitors about the impact of violence, informing about events surrounding the bombing, and inspiring hope and healing through lessons learned by those affected.

The Memorial and Museum are located at 620 N. Harvey in Oklahoma City. Admission to the Memorial is free; Museum
admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for students. Special rates and programs are available for school groups of
10 or more students and adult groups of 20 or more. Memorial Museum hours are Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ticket sales end daily at 5 p.m.

For more information on the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, call 888.542.HOPE or visit
www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.