OKC Memorial pictures

[3princesses4us]

DH had the day off today and we finally made the 2 hour trip to OKC to see the National Memorial. All I can say is that it was heartbreaking and breathtaking all at the same time. It was so professionally done. If you are ever even close to the area- GO! It is so worth the $8/adult ticket price to tour the museum. Just thought I'd share some of the photos I took today. Some I had never seen before...
This is how close we parked. Directly across the street from the entrance.
Keep in mind this used to be a through street where he parked the Ryder truck...

Here is the wall of memorabilia surrounding the entrance. I have been to NYC's Ground Zero and it is much the same except on a smaller scale.

Here are the beautiful chairs. All 168 of them each representing a life taken that day. 19 of the chairs are small for reasons you can imagine. The chairs are arranged in 9 rows because there were 9 floors and the engraved chairs are placed in the row/floor that they died. The 5 chairs on the far end represent the 5 who died outside the building.

This was news to me. Here is the survivor wall. It's the only part of the actual Murrah building left standing and they very tastefully engraved the names of the hundreds of survivors onto the wall.

Here is some grafitti across the street that moved me. It is dated 4-19-95.

I just loved this photo showing how big and beautiful the area was and am so glad that beautiful church is still standing in the background.

Here we are (okay not me) walking out of the museum tour (can't take pictures inside). To show how they thought of every little detail, the walkway is made of granite that came from the actual Murrah building itself.

I don't really know why I felt compelled to post these. I was just so moved and impressed with all the hard work that went into this memorial I wanted to share. Lest we never forget.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

We were in OKC two weeks ago and visited the memorial - it's very moving, and beautifully done. Some things, like the shoe of one of the baby's who died - moved me to tears. I have almost the same pictures as you, lol! I'm very glad we took the time to visit, and it opened up some great discussions with our DD10. Whereabouts in OK do you live? We visited family in Antlers, and stayed at Rebel Hill Ranch. OK is a beautiful state!

 

[3princesses4us]

Thanks! We live in a suburb just east of Tulsa (Broken Arrow) and I'm ashamed to say that we went to see NY's Ground Zero in March of 2002 and had never been up the turnpike to see our own devastation until today.
The thing that got me the most was the audio of the bomb going off and then the instant pictures of all 168 victims. I started crying immediately.
We were on the elevator with people from Ohio and there were signs up saying that over 1 million people from all 50 states and 27 countries had visited so far- wow! Glad you came all the way from California!

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

We have visited the memorial many times - but have never taken the inside tour. The last time we were there... several college athletes we knew were coming out crying and I knew my boys were too young so we waited. We will go back though... someday.

The reflection pool is awesome - and the tree that stood right beside the building that remains there today.

Your pictures are great, thanks for sharing. It is something everyone should see at least once!

 

[GEM]

My Dad often worked in the Murrah building. He was out at a meeting at another location the morning of the bombing, but I didn't know that for the first four hours of that awful morning. All the circuits were jammed and I couldn't get a call to him or to my mother. He lost a lot of friends and co-workers that morning. It took me a long time to work up the nerve to visit the memorial. I'm glad I did. It's is beautiful!

By the way, 3Princesses, I grew up in Oklahoma (Chandler). My mom lives in Tulsa now and I have lots of relatives in Broken Arrow!

 

[Dan Murphy]

What wonderful pictures, 3princesses4us. They really show the sadness, the respect, the memories. Someday I hope to go and pay my repsects also. Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[binny]

Thank you for sharing. It seems so respectful.

 

[LoriKay]

Thanks for sharing. We've lived in Oklahoma for 14 months and going to the OKC memorial is first on my list of things we need to do in our new state.

 

[paigevz]

I'm too scared to go. I worked with the children in the center the year before, and I don't know which (if any) were there..........................and I don't think I want to. Right now I have beautiful memories of living children..........I'd like to think they are in high school.

 

[bettyann29]

Very sad.. I went there a few months after it happened and it was sad to see all that stuff hanging on the fence.. I couldnt help but cry..

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

3princesses, you are literally my neighbor! I live almost as close to Broken Arrow as you can get without being in Broken Arrow - across from Woodland Hills Mall, kinda. I haven't seen the memorial either, but in my defense, I didn't live here when it happened, and I have only been to OKC once, for the day. Great pics though, I definitely need to get down there one day.

 

[Planogirl]

I've been and it's a beautiful and amazingly well-planned memorial. I was so amazed at the tiny little details that all mean something and that field of chairs is incredible particularly the small ones.

I too recommend that everyone see this if they can. It's a piece of art IMO and a true testament to what happened.

 

[3princesses4us]

bumping in case anyone missed it due to it's earlier generic title...

 

[perdidobay]

Thanks for sharing.... we should never forget.......

 

[GEM]

I live almost as close to Broken Arrow as you can get without being in Broken Arrow - across from Woodland Hills Mall, kinda.

That's so funny! My mom lives sort of over that way - just off 31st, about 10 minutes from Woodland Hills. We've been visiting that Steak and Shake over on Memorial every time we go and visit, which we do a lot!

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

That's so funny! My mom lives sort of over that way - just off 31st, about 10 minutes from Woodland Hills. We've been visiting that Steak and Shake over on Memorial every time we go and visit, which we do a lot!

Small world! We live the opposite direction, 71st and Mingo. We eat at Steak and Shake occasionally, but it is always so busy!

 

[escape]

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I have not been to OKC in quite a while but I would like to go back some day and see this memorial. I'm sure it is very moving and heartbreaking at the same time.

 

[Virgo10]

What a beautiful Memorial. Thank you for sharing your photos.