Oklahoma City National Memorial facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Location in Oklahoma Show map of Oklahoma Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Area	3.3 acres (1.3 ha) 3.12 acres (1.26 ha) federal
Built	1997–2001
Visitation	350,000 per year
Website	Oklahoma City National Memorial
NRHP reference No.	01000278
Added to NRHP	October 9, 1997

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a special place in the United States. It honors everyone affected by a sad event that happened on April 19, 1995. This includes the people who lost their lives, those who survived, and the brave rescuers.

The memorial is in downtown Oklahoma City. It stands where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once was. This building was destroyed in the 1995 bombing.

The idea for a national memorial was approved on October 9, 1997. President Bill Clinton signed a law to create it. The memorial is managed by a special foundation. Staff from the National Park Service also help visitors learn about the site.

The outdoor memorial was officially opened on April 19, 2000. This was five years after the bombing. The museum opened the next year, on February 19, 2001.

History of the Memorial

On April 19, 1995, a terrible event occurred in Oklahoma City. A truck filled with explosives was parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The explosion killed 168 people. It also destroyed a large part of the building.

After this sad event, the mayor of Oklahoma City wanted to create a lasting memorial. A special group was formed to plan it. They decided on an outdoor memorial, a museum, and an institute to help prevent future acts of violence.

Many people submitted designs for the memorial. In July 1997, a design by Hans and Torrey Butzer was chosen. Their plan became the memorial we see today.

In October 1997, President Bill Clinton signed a law. This law made the Oklahoma City National Memorial an official site. It would be managed by a special trust.

The memorial cost about $29.1 million to build. The government and the state of Oklahoma helped pay for it. More than $17 million came from private donations.

The outdoor memorial opened on April 19, 2000. The museum opened on February 19, 2001. In 2004, the memorial became part of the National Park System.

Millions of people have visited the memorial since it opened. About 350,000 people visit each year.

What You See at the Memorial

The Field of Empty Chairs, east Gate of Time, and Reflecting Pool. The Survivor Tree is also visible.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial from the reflecting pool.

The Survivor Tree is a symbol of hope after the bombing.

The Memorial Fence and east Gate of Time.

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial covers about 3.3 acres. You can visit it any time, day or night.

• The Gates of Time: These are two large bronze gates. They mark the exact moment the bombing happened: 9:02. The eastern gate says 9:01. This represents the last moment of peace. The western gate says 9:03. This represents the first moment of recovery.

The gates have a special message:

• Reflecting Pool: This is a calm pool of water. It flows over shiny black granite. The pool runs through the center of the memorial. It is where Fifth Street used to be. You can see your reflection in the water. This reminds visitors that everyone was changed by what happened.

• Field of Empty Chairs: There are 168 empty chairs here. They are made from glass, bronze, and stone. Each chair stands for a person who lost their life. Their name is carved into the glass base. The chairs are placed where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood.

The chairs are in nine rows. Each row represents a floor of the building. A person's chair is on the floor where they were when the bomb exploded. Nineteen smaller chairs represent the children who died. Three unborn children are also remembered on their mothers' chairs.

• Survivors' Wall: This wall is made from parts of the original Murrah Building. It is the only part of the building that remains. The wall has the names of more than 600 survivors. Many of them were hurt in the explosion.

• Survivor Tree: This is an American elm tree. It was badly damaged by the bomb but it lived. It has become a symbol of hope. Every year, seeds from this tree are planted. The young trees are given away on the anniversary of the bombing. Thousands of Survivor Trees now grow across the U.S.

• The Memorial Fence: A tall chain link fence was put up after the bombing. It protected the site. For over four years, visitors left items on the fence. These included stuffed animals, poems, and keychains. These items were tributes. Part of the fence was moved to the west side of the memorial. Visitors can still leave small items there. These items are collected and saved.

• Rescuers' Orchard: This is a group of trees planted around the Survivor Tree. It includes Oklahoma redbuds, which are Oklahoma's state tree. Other trees like Amur Maple and Chinese Pistache are also there. These trees represent the rescuers who came to help. The trees from other places show that rescuers came from all over.

• Children's Area: After the bombing, children from all over sent hand-painted tiles. More than 5,000 tiles arrived. A few of these tiles are on a wall in the Children's Area. There are also chalkboards where children can draw and share their feelings. This area is near the museum.

• Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum: This museum is in the Journal Record Building. It has many exhibits and items related to the Oklahoma City bombing. You can learn a lot about the event and its impact here.

• Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Plaza: This area is just south of the Field of Empty Chairs. It was part of the original federal building. It used to have a garden and a playground. Visitors can walk across this plaza. The original flagpole still stands here, flying the American flag.

A wide view of the Oklahoma City National Memorial

Nearby Memorials

Two churches were very close to the Murrah Building. They were both damaged by the explosion. Both churches were repaired. They also built their own memorials on their land. These are not part of the official memorial, but they are open to the public.

• Heartland Chapel: This is an outdoor wooden chapel. It is across the street from the 9:01 gate. The altar is made from church stones damaged by the bombing. Many people from the Jewish community helped fund this chapel.

• And Jesus Wept: This is a sculpture of Jesus. It is across the street from the 9:03 gate. Jesus is facing away from the damage, covering his face. In front of the sculpture is a wall with 168 gaps. Each gap represents a life that was lost.

Images for kids

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  The Survivors’ Wall is the only remaining part of the Murrah Building left standing, and forms part of the memorial complex.

See also

In Spanish: Monumento Conmemorativo Nacional de Oklahoma City para niños