The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum stands on the site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, where a bomb exploded on April 19, 1995. The outdoor memorial has 168 empty chairs, one for each person killed, with smaller chairs for the 19 children. A reflecting pool, two tall Gates of Time and a 100-year-old elm called the Survivor Tree complete the grounds, which are open at no charge. The museum tells the story of the bombing and the recovery that followed, with bomb-damaged artifacts, personal accounts and video. Go in daylight to read the gate inscriptions, or after dark to see the chairs lit.
April 19, 1995
A truck loaded with explosives was parked beside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City and detonated. The bombing killed 168 people, among them 19 children who were in the day-care center on the building's first floor. The man who drove the truck, Timothy McVeigh, was arrested and later tried.
The museum covers the events that led up to the bombing and the days, weeks and years that followed. Its exhibits look at the rescue work and at how the explosion affected families and the wider city.
The outdoor memorial
The grounds sit on the area where the Murrah building once stood. The Field of Empty Chairs holds 168 chairs set on grass, one for each person killed, with smaller chairs for the children. Visitors walk between two tall gates called the Gates of Time, which are inscribed with 9:01 and 9:03. The times frame the moment of the blast.
The Reflecting Pool sits near the chairs, and the Survivor Tree, a 100-year-old elm, stands on the grounds. Along the fence outside the entrance, the National Memorial Fence holds photos and messages to the dead, along with letters to lost parents and stuffed animals.
A children's area with chalk lets young visitors draw and share how they feel about the tragedy. Architects Hans and Torrey Butzer and Sven Berg designed the memorial, and several contractors built it under the Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust.
Inside the Memorial Museum
The museum occupies the former Journal Record Building, which stood on the corner beside the Federal Building and withstood the bombing. Its collection includes more than a million photos, videos, artifacts and pieces of evidence, among them bomb-damaged objects.
Oral accounts and video presentations tell the story of the day. Photos of the victims hang in the museum. A round room honors each person with a photo and a personal item donated by their family. The investigation is covered too, including the vehicle Timothy McVeigh was driving when he was pulled over and arrested.
Touchscreens, galleries and theaters support a self-guided tour, and augmented reality features add to the visit. A research library, archives and educational programs are also on site. A renovation costing $10 million added new technology, new artifacts and hands-on exhibits.
Planning a visit
The museum suits older teens and adults. Its content is direct, and some exhibits are hard to see. Younger or sensitive visitors may prefer to start with the outdoor grounds.
The grounds are open to all at no cost. The museum charges admission. One listed price was $18, so confirm the current rate before you go. Tickets in advance are recommended.
The site has a gift shop and a restaurant, tours for visually impaired visitors, and discounts for active military. The entrance, elevator, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
The outdoor memorial is free to the public. The museum has an admission fee. One listed price was $18, so check the current rate before you go.
Do I need tickets in advance?
Getting museum tickets in advance is recommended.
Is the memorial suitable for children?
The museum is designed with mature teens and adults in mind, and some exhibits are hard to see. Younger or sensitive children may do better with the outdoor grounds, which include a children's area with chalk.
Can you see the memorial at night?
Yes. The memorial was designed to be seen by day and by night, and the chairs are lit after dark.
Is the site wheelchair accessible?
The entrance, elevator, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible.
