Oklahoma City National Memorial

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Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
St. Joseph's Old Cathedral from the Oklahoma City National Memorial.jpg
Oklahoma City National Memorial pictured in 2006
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Location620 North Harvey Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73102
Coordinates 35°28′22″N97°31′2″W / 35.47278°N 97.51722°W / 35.47278; -97.51722
Area3.3 acres (1.3 ha)
3.12 acres (1.26 ha) federal
Built1997–2001
Visitation350,000 per year [1]
Website Oklahoma City National Memorial
NRHP reference No. 01000278 [2]
Added to NRHPOctober 9, 1997

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a memorial site in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, that honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. It is situated on the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was destroyed in the bombing. The building was located on NW 5th Street between N. Robinson Avenue and N. Harvey Avenue.

Contents

The national memorial was authorized on October 9, 1997, by President Bill Clinton's signing of the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997. It was administratively listed on the National Register of Historic Places the same day. [2] The memorial is administered by Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation, with National Park Service staff to help interpret the memorial for visitors.

The memorial was formally dedicated on April 19, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the bombing. The museum was dedicated and opened 10 months later on February 19, 2001.

History

On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a Ryder rental truck filled with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The resulting explosion killed 168 people and destroyed the entire north face of the building. [3]

Months after the attack, Mayor Ron Norick appointed a task force to look into a creation of a permanent memorial where the Murrah building once stood. The Task Force called for 'a symbolic outdoor memorial', a Memorial Museum, and for creation of Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. Six hundred and twenty four designs were submitted for the memorial and in July 1997 a design by Butzer Design Partnership, which consists of husband and wife Hans and Torrey Butzer, was chosen.. [1] [4]

In October 1997, President Bill Clinton signed law creating the Oklahoma City National Memorial to be operated by the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust. The total cost of the memorial was $29.1 million ($55,140,783.18 in 2023): $10 million for the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, $7 million for the Memorial Museum, $5 million for the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism and the rest for other costs. [1] The federal government appropriated $5 million for construction with the state of Oklahoma matching that amount. More than $17 million in private donations was raised. [4]

On April 19, 2000, the fifth anniversary of the attack, the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial was dedicated. On February 19, 2001, the Memorial Museum was dedicated. [4] In 2004 it was transferred from the trust, to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation, designating it an affiliated area of National Park System. [5] The Oklahoma City National Memorial since its opening has seen over 4.4 million visitors to the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial and 1.6 million visitors to the Memorial Museum. [4] The Memorial has an average of 350,000 visitors per year. [1]

Memorial features

The Field of Empty Chairs, east Gate of Time, and Reflecting Pool at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The Survivor Tree is visible in the upper left corner. Oklahoma City National Memorial viewed from the south showing the memorial chairs, Gate of Time, Reflecting Pool, and Survivor Tree.jpg
The Field of Empty Chairs, east Gate of Time, and Reflecting Pool at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The Survivor Tree is visible in the upper left corner.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial as seen from the base of the reflecting pool Oklahoma City National Memorial at dusk.jpg
The Oklahoma City National Memorial as seen from the base of the reflecting pool
The Survivors' Wall is the only remaining part of the Murrah Building left standing, and forms part of the memorial complex. Oklahoma bombing memorial-surviving wall.JPG
The Survivors' Wall is the only remaining part of the Murrah Building left standing, and forms part of the memorial complex.
After surviving the bombing, the Survivor Tree became an emblem of the Memorial. The Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.jpg
After surviving the bombing, the Survivor Tree became an emblem of the Memorial.
The Memorial Fence and east Gate of Time The Memorial Fence and East Gate of Time at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.jpg
The Memorial Fence and east Gate of Time

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial consists of the following segments on 3.3 acres (13,000 m2) and are accessible day or night.

The outside of each gate bears this inscription:

We come here to rememberThose who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever.May all who leave here know the impact of violence.May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.

Oklahoma City memorial.jpg
Panoramic view of the Oklahoma City National Memorial

Adjacent memorials

Two churches were located across the street from the Murrah Building. Both were heavily damaged by the blast. Each church was repaired and both constructed memorials on their property. While not part of the official memorial they are open to the public.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 National Park Service. "Frequently Asked Questions" . Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "National Register of Historical Places – Oklahoma (OK), Oklahoma County". National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  3. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. "Building and Memorial Site". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. "History and Mission". Archived from the original on March 14, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  5. "Oklahoma City National Memorial is a Fine Memorial, But It's Not a National Park | National Parks Traveler". www.nationalparkstraveler.org. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. "Symbolism". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  7. "Outdoor Symbolic Memorial". Oklahoma City National Memorial. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  8. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. "Survivor Tree". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  9. DelCour, Julie. "Public Chapel to Open At Site of OC Church". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  10. Kurtzman, Daniel (April 19, 1996). "A year after Oklahoma blast, Jews feel less isolated". Jweekly.com. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  11. St.Joseph Old Cathedral. "About Us". Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service .