Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

The Oklahoma City Memorial shows just how wide the potential and purpose of the concept of "museum" can be.  Looking at the work and planning that went into this museum, we can also see how difficult it must be to put an event like the OKC bombing on display.

The Memorial Pool

The museum sits across from the public memorial--the black pool and the empty chairs.  Visitors are brought through a timeline of  the morning of the bombing, April 19, 1995.  Radio weathercasts and recollections of the early morning events and routine situate the visitor in the perspective of ordinary citizens before the bombing.  One exhibit re-creates a room where ordinary city business was being conducted, and plays a recording of the meeting that was taking place, complete with the sound of an explosion and shattering glass that interrupted it.  The rupture between the moments before the bomb and everything that has come after remains the dominant theme of the museum.  The pool sits between 2 markers, one representing the minute before the bombing, the other the minute afterward--with the pool itself as the enormous chasm between before and after.

Other exhibits cover the aftermath from various perspectives.  For example, a display of political cartoons recalls some of the reactions from across the country.  This exhibit also calls attention to the common assumption before Timothy McVeigh''s arrest that the bombing must have been a Muslim plot. As for McVeigh, pictures and a discussion of his trial and execution find just the right touch to convey information while avoiding sensationalism.  The focus stays on the victims, with personal artifacts recovered from the Murrah Building--eyeglasses, clothing, office equipment--and information on the fate of the owners. Several exhibits also commemorate those who helped, from first responders to those who worked with survivors to other cities and groups that offered support in the aftermath.  Visitors also have the opportunity to listen to the words of survivors and witnesses in private cubicles. 

One considerate touch--boxes of tissues placed discretely through many of the exhibits--showed how deeply visitors were affected.  Another welcome, considerate touch was the exhibit on Judge Alfred P. Murrah, for whom the building was named. 

Survivor Tree

The museum achieves at least two goals--memorializing the victims (and the pre-bombing version of OKC itself), and learning from the event.  The Survival Tree just outside the museum serves as a logo and symbol of the mission to provide comfort and hope.  The website recommends allowing 1 1/2 hours for the visit; I believe our visit was closer to 2 hours.  We had 10 and 12 year old children with us, which meant lots of explaining and questions. 

Info from the website:

620 N. Harvey, Oklahoma City
405.235.3313 888.542.HOPE

Open Mon-Sat 9:00-6:00
Sunday 1:00-6:00  (except Memorial Day-Labor Day--12:00-6:00)

Adult	$10
Senior (62+)	$8
Military (With ID)	$8
Student (6-17 or college student with current ID)	$8
Children (5 years and under)	Free